Dakota S. Lovellette, Selling Firearms to Minors, Indiana 2019

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Man Sells Gun to Juvenile, Accidently Shooting Classmate

A tragic chain of events unfolded in Southern Indiana when Dakota S. Lovellette, 20, sold a firearm to a juvenile who accidently shot another juvenile in the chest. Miraculously, the victim survived but is now paralyzed.

According to court documents, Lovellette wanted to purchase a firearm in February 2019 but was unable to do so due to his age. He enlisted the help of Nicholas P. Apple, 23, who was also barred from purchasing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Apple’s then-girlfriend, Kyla A. Freeman, 24, agreed to purchase the firearm on Lovellette’s behalf, falsifying information on the official Firearms Transaction Record in the process. Freeman was paid $1,000 by Lovellette for her services and went on to purchase a .38 caliber revolver.

Freeman then handed the firearm over to Lovellette, who eventually sold it to the juvenile involved in the shooting. The incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers of straw purchases and the importance of responsible gun ownership.

“We work closely with ATF and our other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to combat gun crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “Identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms and lying on federal firearms transaction forms, will help keep guns out of the wrong hands and provide our communities a safer place to live and work.”

Nicholas P. Apple was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine. Kyla A. Freeman received 2 years of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine. Dakota S. Lovellette was sentenced to 4 years of probation and a $1,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in conjunction with the Vincennes Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Miller prosecuted the case.

As the community reels from this senseless tragedy, authorities urge everyone to be aware of the dangers of straw purchases and the importance of responsible gun ownership.