Simmons

EBENSBURG — A Chest Township man accused of shooting his wife twice with a shotgun last year was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in a state correctional facility in Cambria County Court on Tuesday.

William E. Simmons, 70, in March accepted a deal with the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty to one felony count of third-degree murder.

His other charges, felony counts of aggravated assault – extreme indifference and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, will be dismissed 31 days after sentencing as long as Simmons doesn’t appeal his sentence, Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said.

Simmons was also ordered by Judge Michael A. Carbonara to pay the cost of prosecution and a $10,000 fine. He will receive credit for his time served in the Cambria County Prison, where he has been confined since Feb. 22, 2024, and is ineligible for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive program.

According to the case file, Simmons was arguing with his wife, Rebecca, last year at their home on the 300 block of Grozanick Road when she told him of her plans to leave and get a new place to live.

Court documents state Simmons shot his wife with a 12-gauge shotgun before she went into the coal/furnace room, held the door shut and called Cambria County 911. Simmons then shot the middle of the door and saw his wife lying on the floor with the house phone next to her, according to the case file.

Several people gave testimonies in court Tuesday, including the victim’s sister, Charlotte Lechene, Simmons’ daughter, Billie Simmons, and one of William Simmons’ friends of 11 years, Adam Biter.

Lechene was in tears as she spoke of the victim in court.

Rebecca worked tirelessly and stuck by Simmons, who insisted on going everywhere with her and wouldn’t even allow her to play cards with her unless he was there, too, Lechene said.

Lechene recalled a time when she ran into Rebecca at a Dollar General store and said her sister had to leave and get home within 15 minutes or there would be “hell to pay” from Simmons.

According to Lechene, who reportedly spoke with Rebecca on the phone the day before the shooting, Rebecca didn’t want a divorce from Simmons but told her, “I just want to be free.”

“Becky loved her family and would do anything to help them,” Lechene said, adding Simmons “absolutely knew” using the shotgun would kill his wife.

Billie Simmons said the incident was “tragic” and her father wasn’t in the right state of mind when he killed his wife.

“I didn’t just lose my mom. I lost my dad, too,” she said, adding Simmons rarely raised his voice at his children. “Not many people know the whole story. How she was treating my dad was wrong and unfair.”

Billie Simmons said Lechene hasn’t been involved in her life and made “invalid” claims that were “completely and totally inappropriate” in court Tuesday.

Biter also claimed Lechene lied under oath and said Simmons shouldn’t be judged for his actions last year.

William Simmons initially chose not to address the court directly. His defense attorney, Michael T. Crum, said Simmons has “been remorseful from the moment this happened.”

“I believe he has lost his best friend,” Crum said. “This one moment should not define Mr. Simmons.”

When given another opportunity to address the court, William Simmons said, “I am sorry for what happened to us. That’s enough.”

Carbonara said he’s seen difficult family situations unfold in court for years and thanked those who gave testimonies for their opinions.

“The ruling before the court is that there’s not much question about what happened on that day,” Carbonara said, noting Simmons’ guilt is “not really in doubt.”

William Simmons said he understood the terms of his sentence and did not have any questions about his post-sentencing rights to file an appeal with the Superior Court within 30 days.

After receiving his sentence, Simmons was transported back to the Cambria County Prison, where he’ll spend an additional 30 days before being transported to SCI Camp Hill, Cumberland County, which serves as the central diagnostic and classification center for all male inmates entering the state prison system, Neugebauer said.

According to Neugebauer, Simmons will remain there for 60 to 90 days before the state Department of Corrections will determine which state correctional facility he will serve his time in.

“This case highlights how it’s never appropriate to introduce a firearm into a domestic dispute and that it can have horrific consequences,” Neugebauer said, adding what is “essentially a life sentence” for Simmons ensures that justice was served to the victim, to those who loved her and to the community.

“The community will be safe and will no longer be subject to potential harm from Mr. Simmons,” Neugebauer said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.