Buis sentenced to 18 years

GREENCASTLE -- A Van Bibber Lake man who shot his neighbor to death in April has been given an 18-year sentence.

Matthew Buis, 40, pled guilty on Nov. 22 to Class B felony voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Clifford Hulse, 57. Buis was originally charged with Class A felony voluntary manslaughter, but the charge was reduced under the terms of a plea agreement.

Judge Matthew Headley ordered that 16 years of Buis' sentence would be executed, while the remaining two would be suspended and spent on probation.

Buis received credit for the 230 days he has served at the Putnam County Jail.

Buis could have received a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The shooting that killed Hulse happened on April 27. Buis, who lived across the street from Hulse, was arrested the next day. His bond was set at $100,000 cash only, which he was never able to post.

Court records said Buis arrived at Hulse's home about 2 a.m. on the day of the shooting. The two men had an argument, and Hulse demanded that Buis leave the premises.

Buis refused, and at that point, witnesses told police, he pulled a handgun from his pocket and fired two rounds. The first round went over Hulse's head, the witness said, while the second hit Hulse.

Buis returned home after shooting Hulse. Hulse was pronounced dead at the scene. The bullet struck an artery, and Hulse bled to death. The cause of Hulse's death was listed on official records as a single gunshot wound to the mid-chest.

Buis maintained throughout court proceedings that Hulse had come after him with a filet knife, and that he had shot the man in self-defense.

Buis was originally set to be sentenced Dec. 21, but the date was moved up.