‘Off-the-rails’ divorce, threats to judges led to deadly shooting involving U.S. Marshals

CLARK COUNTY — A retired Greene County domestic relations judge, who was one of several assigned to the divorce case of a man shot and killed last week, said the incident was tragic, but also a relief for him and his family.

“This guy was the worst in my 36 years in the domestic relations court,” said Judge Steven Hurley, describing the threats made on multiple occasions by Douglas C. Barton. “We all had our plans for our protection.”

Barton, 50, of Bethel Twp., was shot and killed by the U.S. Marshals Friday morning after he shot at them while they tried to serve an arrest warrant. The warrant was issued after Barton was accused of making threats to another judge on the divorce case, Judge David Stucki.

>> RELATED: Man shot, killed by U.S. Marshals had lengthy issues with judges, ex-wife

Barton’s divorce was filed in August 2013 after about a year of marriage.

“Seemed to be a simple matter,” Hurley said. “That went off-the-rails, which is unusual for a short-term marriage.”

Over the course of several years, and appeals by Barton, the 50-year-old ended up suing Hurley and several other Greene County court staff members in federal court saying his civil rights had been violated in connection to a protection order involving his ex-wife, online records show. The case was eventually thrown out.

“It became pretty apparent he didn’t like things that didn’t go his way,” Hurley said. “He believed somehow we were prejudice.”

That case led to Hurley recusing himself from the divorce case and several visiting judges, including Stucki, had been assigned to handle the case. Eventually the divorce was finalized, but Barton still “continued to be upset with the court,” Hurley said.

Hurley said everyone “went on high alert” after a series of threats involving Barton. Hurley said it even went as far as Sheriff Gene Fischer having a deputy sit outside his home until he returned from vacation.

“It was pretty stressful on my wife,” the retired judge said. “You learn to be aware of your circumstances.”

One of the threats Barton was accused of happened in October 2015, when he was accused of making suicidal and homicidal statements involving his ex-wife and a judge at the Dayton VA Medical Center, but ended up leaving the facility before being admitted. Police surrounded his home and eventually arrested him after a standoff.

Cox Media Group