Republican Oklahoma state Rep. Ty Burns pleaded guilty to one charge of domestic abuse and two charges of misdemeanor assault, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Thursday.
The charges stemmed from incidents involving “family members” in November 2024 and April 2025. In a statement, Burns said he would step down from his position as chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee, but would not resign from office.
“I know I must do better for myself and my family. I deeply regret what occurred and am prepared to be held accountable for my actions. I am stepping down from my position as chair of the Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee so I can focus on my family and serving my constituents,” Burns wrote.
Burns was first elected to the Oklahoma House in 2018. Court documents said investigators found multiple instances of conflict between Burns and his wife.
In November 2024, Burns’s wife said she informed him she had plans with friends, which angered him. Burns then followed her into a bathroom, pointed at her, and forcefully attempted to gouge her eye out with his finger, according to the court documents.
In April, court documents said Burns got into an argument with his wife and her friend. Burns was accused of “attempting to run a vehicle that [the friend] was driving off the road and striking said vehicle with his hands while screaming and making threats of violence.”
Under the terms of the sentence, Burns is required to complete a Batterers Intervention Program, Drummond said.
“These are serious charges,“ Drummond said. “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 the terms of his sentence. Domestic violence is tragically all too common in our state. It must stop.”
Burns said he started the yearlong intervention program and is being treated for PTSD.
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Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) urged Burns to resign from office in a statement on Friday.
“Representative Burns and his family are in my prayers, but at this time I urge him to step down from his position in the legislature,” Stitt told KOCO 5 in a statement. “Domestic violence is a serious crime and should be treated as such. Being an elected official is a full-time commitment to the public, and these serious convictions of recent abuse should demand full-time attention to rehabilitation and reconciliation.”