An Oklahoma judge, Brian Lovell, who is awaiting trial for alleged road rage incidents in Texas, is now facing charges in his own state. Lovell has been indicted for a drive-by shooting into the home of his brother-in-law, six months before the road-rage incident. If convicted, Lovell could face a minimum of two years in prison. His attorney has stated that Lovell will plead not guilty and vigorously defend himself against the charges, citing insufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The shooting at Lovell’s brother-in-law’s home occurred on Feb. 12, 2023, with at least five shots fired at the occupied residence, causing damage but thankfully missing those inside. A bullet and five shell casings were recovered from the scene. Lovell reported that a .40-caliber pistol had been stolen from his pickup truck around the same time as the shooting incident. Lovell has not been hearing cases since September, when he was arrested in Austin for allegedly rear-ending a woman’s vehicle, matching the description of a shooter in a separate incident of firing at parked vehicles.
Lovell allegedly told Austin police that the woman had cut him off in traffic, but he did not admit that the collisions that followed were intentional. While he confirmed carrying two handguns in his vehicle, he claimed not to know why he would have shot the gun and could not recall the incident. Investigators in Oklahoma believe that the same .40-caliber gun was used in both incidents, despite Lovell reporting it as stolen. The motive for the shootings is unclear in both indictments.
Paul Woodward, the administrative judge for Garfield County, has stated that Lovell has agreed not to preside over any cases until the resolution of his own criminal charges. Lovell’s upcoming hearing on the Texas charges is scheduled for June. The defense attorney has emphasized that Lovell will defend himself vigorously against the charges, maintaining that the evidence present is insufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt of his guilt. Lovell continues to face legal challenges in both Texas and Oklahoma related to the alleged shooting incidents.
