Orange Man Faces Up to 35 Years for Slaying of Former Essex Football Star

An Orange man was convicted Tuesday in the killing of a former Essex County standout football player.

An Essex County jury deliberated for a day and a half before finding Mark Lovett, 22, guilty of aggravated manslaughter for the 2012 killing of Malcolm Bagley.

Lovett was also convicted of aggravated assault for the shooting of another man, unlawful possession of a rifle and possession of a rifle for an unlawful purpose. He was acquitted of the more serious charge of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Bagley, 19, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Taylor Street in Orange on May 27, 2012. Bagley, a 2011 Orange High School grad, had just finished his freshman year at Dean College in Massachusetts where he played on the school's football team.

Judge Robert H. Gardner revoked Lovett's $1 million bail. Sentencing has been scheduled for Set. 12 at 1:30 p.m. Lovett faces up to 35 years in state prison.

"We believe justice was served in this case," said Assistant Prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo, who tried the case. "Hopefully, this will bring some comfort to the victim’s family."

Shawn Watford, 26, of East Orange, is a co-defendant in the case who is accused of being the driver during the shooting. Watford, who is awaiting trial, has been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses.