An intoxicated, infatuated Villager who last year fired 33 rounds at the front door of his neighbor lady’s house, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Howard Sparber, 70, was arrested last June after he armed himself with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and repeatedly fired at the front door of the home of a woman on Landale Loop on whom the married Sparber had developed a crush. She was not home at the time. He had been drinking.
She later said her Village of Hadley neighbor had been harassing her with sexual propositions, tried to lure her into a hot tub and had previously pointed a gun at her, all over a span of several months.
On Thursday in Sumter County Court, a uniform order of commitment was filed, turning Sparber over to the Florida Department of Corrections.
He has been sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by 10 years probation. He was also ordered to pay $7,387 in fines and court costs.
In addition, Sparber has been ordered to pay restitution to the victim, but that file has been sealed in court. At the time of Sparber’s arrest, the damage to the woman’s home was estimated at $3,000. Bullets had struck her storm door, front door, and continued through the foyer, and into the kitchen cabinetry and contents.
Sparber’s wife has filed for divorce. She and her estranged husband still own the home on Landale Loop.
The object of Sparber’s affection still owns the house next door, according to records from the Sumter County Property Appraiser’s Office.
Sparber has been behind bars since his arrest this past June. A judge refused to set bond last year.
