A Republican state representative from Oklahoma will not serve jail time after pleading guilty to a series of disturbing domestic violence incidents — including an attempt to gouge out his wife’s eye and chasing his family off the road in a truck.
Rep. Ty Burns, 46, a self-identified MAGA supporter and U.S. Army veteran, received a one-year suspended sentence from Pawnee County District Judge Patrick Pickerill, according to Law&Crime.
The decision follows Burns’ guilty plea to one count of misdemeanor domestic abuse and two counts of misdemeanor assault, officials announced last week. Burns is also required to complete a Batterers Intervention Program.
“These are serious charges,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. “While there is no excuse for domestic violence, I am encouraged that the representative has taken responsibility for his actions and will receive counseling under terms of his sentence. Domestic violence is tragically all too common in our state. It must stop.”
The attorney general’s office took over the case after Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher recused himself.
Burns resigned from the legislature following his guilty plea, effective Oct. 1.
“It is in the best interest of the people I serve in House District 35 and, most importantly, my family to step down from my position,” Burns said. “I take full responsibility for my actions and am going to counseling with my family. Although not an excuse for my actions, I am receiving intensive treatment for issues from military service that I have long ignored as a problem.”
Court documents paint a harrowing picture of Burns’ behavior in two separate incidents. On April 24, Burns allegedly showed up at a home in Morrison, Oklahoma, where his wife, their 16-year-old daughter, and at least two other individuals were present. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Burns was “verbally abusive” and “pushing her around.”
When another woman attempted to leave with the children in a van, things escalated quickly.
Burns “came storming out of nowhere,” police said, and began “shaking the van and pushing it and also opened and slammed the doors.”
According to the affidavit, Burns screamed at the woman: “Get the f— out of here. I hate you. You are the cause of all these problems. You would be sorry if you stayed.” The woman reportedly feared for her life.
After the van departed, Burns allegedly jumped in his own truck and began chasing them. He came “really close” to the van and “got to the side of the van and tried to make [redacted] weave off of the road.”
Burns then overtook the van, blocked its path, and demanded his daughter get out.
“I’m going to make sure you go down,” he screamed. “I’m going to kill you.”
A recording from inside the van captured the terrifying moment. “He is literally following us in the truck, he is chasing us, he is literally about to kill us,” one of the occupants said.
The driver later told police she believed she injured her back and struck her head when Burns ran them off the road and they hit a ditch.
The April episode wasn’t the only violent outburst. During a separate incident on Thanksgiving 2024, Burns’ wife claimed he “got mad” after she made plans with a friend and called him “too controlling.”
According to the affidavit, “[Burns] followed [his wife] into the bathroom… and then forcefully tried to gouge her eye out with his finger.” The attack left her with a burst blood vessel in her eye, preventing her from working the following week.
A family friend later confirmed seeing the injury.
Despite the violent details, the judge opted for a suspended sentence — leaving Burns a free man but under mandatory counseling.
