FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 18, 2016
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
CELL: 512-922-7328

Marshall, Texas – A Carthage, Texas man today was sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury trial for his involvement with the Sept. 30, 2014 theft of 12 head of cattle and ranching equipment from a Harrison County rancher. Harrison County District Attorney Coke Solomon presented the case to the jury.

This joint investigation was conducted by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Larry Hand and Harrison County Sheriff’s Investigator BJ Fletcher. Additional testimony was presented by Panola County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Ivy and Deputy Robert Duncan.

The defendant, Michael Duane Nettles, 32, stole the cattle along with three other suspects from Carthage: Stacie Laine Soape, 45; Alex Christopher Hinton, 36; and Elizabeth Ann Newton, 39. Hand, Fletcher and many local law enforcement authorities have been working on this investigation since the theft occurred in Sept. 2014.

Nettles is currently being held at the Harrison County Jail and will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). In addition to being sentenced to 35 years in prison as a repeat felony offender, Nettles will be required to pay over $6,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs. Soape, Hinton and Newton are out on bond and await trial in Harrison County.

Seven of the 12 head of cattle, three saddles, assorted tack and numerous power tools were recovered in Panola County. Four black steers and one white heifer are still missing. Anyone with further information regarding the cattle unaccounted for in this case should contact TSCRA’s Operation Cow Thief hotline at 888-830-2333 or call Hand at 903-592-5252.

TSCRA would like to thank the following for their roles in this lengthy investigation: Harrison County Sheriff’s Office Investigator BJ Fletcher; Panola County Sheriff Kevin Lake and his Investigators and Patrol Deputies; Panola County Constables Mitch Norton and Bryan Murff; Texas DPS Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division; Louisiana Brand Investigator Carnie Burcham; Harrison County District Attorney Coke Solomon and his staff; and TSCRA Market Inspector Pat McGuigan.

“I am pleased the jury reached a decision that sends a strong message that cattle theft affects ranchers’ livelihoods and it will not be tolerated,” stated Hand. “District Attorney Solomon and his staff did an excellent job of presenting this offense in trial and I am grateful for their tireless efforts.“

For a photo of Nettles, please click HERE.

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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 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 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.