Brian Lovell: Oklahoma Judge's legal woes mount as he faces new charges in alleged drive-by shooting

GARFIELD COUNTY, OKLAHOMA: The tumultuous legal saga of Oklahoma judge Brian Lovell has taken a darker turn as he is facing a new set of felony charges stemming from an alleged drive-by shooting at his brother-in-law's home.

Lovell, who is already embroiled in multiple felony gun charges in Texas, has now been indicted for fresh felonies in his home state.

Insights into Oklahoma drive-by shooting

According to authorities, Garfield County Associate Judge Brian Lovell, aged 59, stands accused of discharging a firearm into a dwelling and utilizing a vehicle to facilitate the discharge of a firearm. These charges arise from an incident on February 12, 2023, in Bison, Oklahoma, as reported by the Enid News & Eagle.

Just two days following the alleged shooting outside his brother-in-law Kenneth Markes' residence, Lovell asserted that the firearm in question had been stolen from his vehicle, stated Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a recent press release. However, this isn't Lovell's first encounter with the law regarding firearms.

Judge Brian Lovell's existing 8 felony gun charges

The judicial figure is also entangled in a legal battle in Texas, facing a staggering eight felony counts related to a purportedly similar episode involving the same Glock 23 .40-caliber gun. This incident allegedly unfolded in Austin on September 11 of the preceding year.

In the Texas case, Lovell is accused of driving near Matamoros and Santa Maria streets in his white SUV, where he purportedly "discharged a firearm approximately five times," causing damage to "several vehicles" in the vicinity. Shortly afterward, he allegedly rear-ended another vehicle during a road rage altercation, with the victim claiming he attempted to force her car into oncoming traffic.

Judge Brian Lovell's legal team challenges charges

However, his legal battles are far from over, with the recent Oklahoma indictment adding to his mounting troubles. Nonetheless, Lovell's attorney, Stephen Jones, contests the charges, asserting the insufficiency of evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

“As far as the merits of the charge and the defense, we do not at this time have the discovery material which in due course will be made available to us,” Jones said. “From our own investigation, the evidence is insufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. We intend to defend the case vigorously and during the course of the investigation the judge and Mrs Lovell have cooperated fully." Indicted in the Austin case on February 29, Lovell currently enjoys freedom on a $10,000 bond.