Tuesday's Internet Edition, March 09, 2010.
special rangers investigage
|
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Rangers Brent Mast, Hal Dumas, Jimmy Belt, Doug Hutchison, Gary Baros and Tommy Charbula investigated along with Lt. Brian Nichols, Waller County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Sheriff
Nathan Hale and Investigator John Janacek, both with the Austin County Sheriff’s Office.
Valerie Williams, 47, and Artis Francies, 50, were arrested on Sept. 10 after investigations revealed they had committed multiple thefts, stealing a few head each time, from several victims over a period of three weeks.
“These arrests were made because of a big team effort between TSCRA and the Waller and Austin County Sheriffs’ Offices,” Mast said. “Without the hard work of each Special Ranger and agency, we would not have been able to track down the serial thieves as quickly as we did, and there could have been more victims and more cattle stolen.”
If convicted, Williams and Francies could each face up to 10 years in prison on each count. Stealing less than 10 head of cattle in the state of Texas is a third degree felony punishable by 2-10 years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine.
TSCRA has 29 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 132-year-old trade organization and is the largest livestock association in Texas. TSCRA has more than 15,000 members who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and educational opportunities for its members and the industry.