A Geneva man has been convicted on attempted murder, conspiracy, assault, and weapons charges after a trial in Ontario County.
On Thursday, Jerry L. Lovett, Jr., 33, of Geneva was convicted by an Ontario County Jury of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder, criminal use of a firearm, first-degree assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. All of the charges are felonies, prosecutors say, who was convicted after he tried to kill a man in Geneva on two separate occasions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Peter Van Dellon and Heather Hines. Judge Brian Dennis presided over the case where extensive evidence was presented to the jury over the 9 day trial. Prosecutors say it detailed the “unspeakable acts of Lovett in not only shooting and attempting to kill the victim in January 2023 but then hiring what he thought was a hitman to kill the same person in the Spring 2023 to prevent the man from testifying against him.”
“The jury’s verdict on Thursday saw Jerry Lovett, Jr. face the consequences of his murderous intent. The combined efforts of the Geneva Police Department, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, brought justice in this outrageous case, where Lovett, upon being charged with Attempted Murder and Assault in the First Degree, hired what he thought was a hitman, but in actuality was an undercover ATF agent, to kill his original target,” said ADA Van Dellon. “There is absolutely no doubt that Ontario County and the surrounding counties are safer as a result of Jerry Lovett, Jr.’s conviction.”
Lovett is now facing 75 years to life in prison for these convictions. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13 in Ontario County Court.
“Jerry Lovett, Jr. deserves to be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law. Seventy-five years to life in prison is necessary to protect not just the victim in this case but our community from Lovett who brazenly hired a hitman to kill the man he himself had attempted to murder just months before,” added Assistant District Attorney Heather Parker. “We are so thankful to our law enforcement partners without whom this victim may have died and these convictions may never have been obtained.”
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