A Lincoln County jury has convicted an Oklahoma City biker of first degree manslaughter in the shooting death of a Midwest City man in September of 2021.
The jury found Steven Roberts, 56, guilty of shooting Daniel Aaron, 33, in the back as he drove his motorcycle on U.S. 62 in Lincoln County near Harrah on Sep. 12, 2021.
The jury recommended 13 years in state prison. A formal sentencing date is yet to be scheduled.
Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk presided over the case.
It’s an 85 percent crime, meaning Roberts will have to serve that amount of time before he is eligible for parole.
The conviction brought an end to the weeklong trial. Jurors spent about eight hours in deliberations before reaching a verdict at 1 a.m.
“We consider it a win. It was a very tough case.” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson, who along with Assistant DA Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case, said.
Roberts was convicted on first degree manslaughter by resisting criminal attempt. He took the stand claiming self defense.
Roberts was 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.
Thompson said Roberts is a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
Aaron, a Marine veteran, was a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, Thompson said.
The State Attorney General’s Office filed the original charges in the case.
Thompson said the case was handed over to Lincoln/Pottawatomie County District Attorney Adam Panter earlier this year and court records show that took place in March.
Roberts was bound over to stand trial at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing in August of 2022.
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.
Nelson originally was accused of acting in concert with Roberts to commit first degree murder. But the State Attorney General’s Office dismissed the case against Nelson in July of 2022 just before his preliminary hearing was scheduled.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Aaron had a prospect, Brandon Drain, driving beside him the day Aaron was 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.
Multiple agencies assisted the OSBI in the investigation of the case including the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Moore Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, District 21 Task Force, Attorney General’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the ATF, according to the affidavit.