Lawton, OK – A Lawton man has been bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing in connection with the December 2022 murder of Shane Chokpoyah. On Tuesday, Comanche County Special District Judge Susan Zwaan ruled that 25-year-old Joshua Andrew Smith will face felony charges, including second-degree murder, unlawful removal of a dead body, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The decision comes after a preliminary hearing where evidence was presented, leading Judge Zwaan to conclude that Smith should stand trial. Smith had previously made his initial court appearance on January 25, 2023, facing the charges stemming from the death of Chokpoyah, whose body was found in December 2022.
Smith’s case will now proceed to Comanche County District Court, where he will face the charges in front of a jury. The trial date has yet to be set.
