Buehler, ‘an extremely evil person,’ sentenced to 15 years in state prison

Kendall man shot wife and set house on fire

ALBION – A Kendall man who shot his wife and set his house on fire was sentenced to 15 years in state prison today for second-degree attempted murder and third-degree arson.

Dennis Buehler, 64, is a sociopath who is profoundly self-centered, Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said during sentencing.

“You are an extremely evil person,” Punch told Buehler.

Buehler declined to speak during the sentencing. In court on Nov. 18, he said he shot his wife Linda with a shotgun on March 4.

“Your intent was to kill her?” Punch asked Buehler in court that day.

“Absolutely,” he replied.

After she was shot in the shoulder, Mrs. Buehler then fled the house, which Buehler then set on fire with propane. The house at 923 Peter Smith Rd. was destroyed by the blaze.

Buehler has told his attorney, public defender Sanford Church, that Mrs. Buehler psychologically abused him. Church said that in court today, but said Buehler chose not to use self defense for the crime.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Buehler has shown no remorse for his criminal actions.

“This is a very violent individual,” Cardone said in court today. “This is a very self-centered individual.”

The DA said Buehler has “shown nothing but arrogance” through the whole court process.

“I frankly believe if given the opportunity he would do it again,” Cardone told the judge.

Buehler was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for second-degree attempted murder and five to 15 years for third-degree arson. The sentences will run concurrently, the length of the longest sentence.

“It’s frustrating I can’t sentence you to more,” Punch said.