Medicine Park man bound over for trial for fatal bar fight

A Medicine Park man accused of killing another in an April bar fight will go to trial for his death.

Following his preliminary hearing Thursday in Comanche County District Court, probable cause was found by Special District Judge Susan Zwaan for Rian Parker Goebel, 33, to go to trial for a felony count of first-degree manslaughter, records indicate. The crime is punishable by no less than four years in prison.

Goebel is accused of punching Johnny Hocutt, 68, of Lawton, to death during the incident shortly before midnight April 10 at the Medicine Park Tavern, 198 E. Lake Drive.

Witnesses identified Goebel as having been in a fight with Hocutt.

According to the witnesses, Hocutt was readying to leave and was saying goodbye to the patrons. When he got to Goebel, a bar acquaintance, Hocutt said something and began punching Goebel in the face, the affidavit states. Witnesses said Goebel began fighting back, knocking Hocutt to the ground before getting on top of him and punching him in the face. A bar employee separated them and pushed Goebel outside. Goebel waited at the scene until deputies arrived.

Goebel told investigators he’d made a “smart mouth reply” to Hocutt and when he began getting punched in the face, he realized a fight was happening and he began hitting the older man in the face while he was on the ground, according to the affidavit. When confronted with the witnesses’ stories, Goebel changed his story and got upset, according to investigators. Goebel denied fearing for his life.

Free on $75,000 bond, Goebel returns to court before District Judge Scott D. Meaders for his formal arraignment.