FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 23, 2014

CONTACT: Laramie Adams, Cell: 512-922-7328

Center, Texas – A Shelby County man turned himself in to authorities Monday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was charged with felony theft of livestock and was released on a $4,000 bond.  

TSCRA Special Ranger, Larry Hand assisted Shelby County Sheriff’s Department investigators Kevin Windham, DJ Dickerson and Constable Stanley Burgay in this investigation.   

The suspect, Hollis Neel Farris, 53, a rancher and poultry producer, was accused of taking his neighbor’s stray bull to an east Texas sale barn, pocketing the funds and denying to the victim ever seeing the bull after selling it.

TSCRA Market Inspector, Pat McGuigan was able to locate sales records implicating Farris, who cooperated with investigators when confronted. Hand was able to track the bull through four counties to a feeder cattle operation and made a positive identification based on distinct earmarks and sales records.   

“This case is a good example of local law enforcement and TSCRA working closely together for the protection of ranchers,” said Hand.   

Hand advises ranchers to brand their livestock so they can be more easily tracked and identified if stolen. He also warns ranchers and the public that all stray cattle in Texas must be reported to their local sheriff’s department.   

###
 

TSCRA has 30 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.

TSCRA is a 137-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 16,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.