Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, sits at the House dais while awaiting action from the Senate on a veto override on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY – A Republican state representative Thursday was charged and pleaded guilty to three domestic-violence related crimes, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office said.
Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of domestic abuse and two misdemeanor counts of assault and received a one-year suspended sentence, the Attorney General’s Office said.
Burns, 46, was charged in connection with domestic violence incidents in November 2024 and April 25, 2025, involving family members, including his wife, who sustained an eye injury, according to court records.
The assault charges were filed after he tried to run a vehicle off the road that was being driven by an adult with a minor family member as a passenger, according to court documents.
Burns was accused of striking the vehicle with his hands, screaming and making threats of violence, including that he would kill the driver, according to charging documents released Thursday afternoon.
Both occupants in the vehicle were reportedly injured when Burns ran them off the road into a ditch, according to charging documents.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called the charges “serious,” but said he is encouraged that Burns took responsibility. Under the terms of his sentence, Burns will receive counseling, Drummond said.
Burns has been a representative for House District 35, which includes Creek, Noble, Osage, Pawnee and Payne counties, since 2018.
Pawnee County District Judge Patrick Pickerill issued the one-year suspended sentence to run concurrently for each count.
Burns will have to complete a Batterers Intervention Program.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and have started a year-long batterers intervention program and am getting treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and learning how to deal with past experiences in a more healthy manner,” Burns said in a statement.
Burns said he was stepping down as chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee to focus on his family and constituents.
Burns has a background in law enforcement, teaching, coaching, the military and ranching, according to the Oklahoma House website. He retired in 2018 from the 45th Infantry Brigade with 20 years of service. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and said he has been awarded the Bronze Star, which recognizes heroic achievement, and a Purple Heart.
Drummond took the case after Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher recused. Drummond’s office had the option of assigning another district attorney’s office to the case, but kept the case because he was committed to aggressively prosecuting cases of domestic violence, said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman.
Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, who is a criminal defense attorney and not involved in the case, said while not unheard of, it is “definitely unusual” for a defendant to be charged and plead guilty the same day.
Prosecutors have discretion with public figures and can work with defense attorneys to see if there is a way to resolve it rather than go through a lengthy court process, Brooks said.
Bacharach said it is unusual to file charges and have the defendant plead the same day, but Burns did not get special treatment.
The arrangement meant attorneys in Drummond’s office had to make fewer trips to the Pawnee County courthouse and saved the office resources, Bacharach said.
Burns information and Affidavit
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