MIKE McCORMICK
Staff Writer
One of two men charged with first degree murder in the death of a Midwest City man last September has been bound over to stand trial.
A murder charge against the other man accused in the killing has been dismissed.
Steven Roberts, 55, was bound over at the conclusion of a recent preliminary hearing. He, along with Virgil Earl Nelson, 67, was charged Dec. 21, 2021 in Lincoln County District Court, accused of killing Daniel Aaron, 33, who reportedly was shot to death as he drove his motorcycle on U.S. 62 in Lincoln County near Harrah last Sept. 12.
The arraignment for Roberts has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on October 4.
Court records show that state prosecutors moved to dismiss the case against Nelson on July 21, the date of his scheduled preliminary hearing in the case and the case was dismissed that day.
Larry Wayne Ramirez, 51, and Conner Buntz, 33, were each charged with accessory after the fact to first degree murder.
Their charges were dismissed in Lincoln County Jan. 4 of this year and refiled the same day in Cleveland County and they were transported there.
The four are reportedly members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
The State Attorney General’s Office is in charge of the cases.
Roberts is accused of on Sept. 12, 2021 in Lincoln County of committing first degree murder with malice and aforethought causing Aaron’s death by shooting him in the back of his body.
Nelson originally was accused of acting in concert with Roberts to commit first degree murder by shooting Aaron in the back of his body.
An alternate count against Nelson was on or between Sep. 12, 2021 and Dec. 16, 2021 in concert with Ramirez of committing the crime of accessory after the fact to first degree murder by knowingly after the commission of first degree murder aided Roberts with efforts to conceal the crime by concealing the motorcycle Roberts used in the commission of Aaron’s death with knowledge Roberts had committed first degree murder in Lincoln County.
The charge further states it was with the intent that Roberts might avoid or escape arrest, trial, conviction or punishment.
The charges against Ramirez and Buntz accuse them of committing accessory after the fact to the crime of first degree murder by concealing the motorcycle of Roberts used in the murder of Aaron with the intent to help him avoid arrest, trial or conviction.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Aaron was a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club. Aaron had a prospect, Brandon Drain, driving beside him the day Aaron was allegedly shot and killed near Harrah in Lincoln County.
Drain advised the agents the motorcycle riders passed on Highway 62 and that Aaron immediately began to drift into the opposing lane of traffic and laid his motorcycle down. Drain went to Aaron and noticed a lump in Aaron’s throat. Drain said EMS responded and transported Aaron.