For Immediate Release:
Jan. 14, 2016
Contact: Laramie Adams
Cell: 512-922-7328

Dayton, Texas – A Liberty County man was arrested and charged with theft of livestock on Jan. 8 after purchasing eight head of cattle on a closed account at the Hills Prairie Livestock Auction, located in Bastrop, Texas.

This case was handled jointly by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Rangers Jimmy Belt, Hal Dumas, Brent Mast and Bastrop County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Garvel.

According to Belt, the suspect Daniel O’Quinn, 51, of Dayton, Texas purchased eight heavy bred heifers on Dec. 2 from the Hills Prairie Livestock Auction, located in Bastrop, Texas, in the amount of $17,600 on a closed bank account. After taking possession of the cattle, O’Quinn delivered them to Mid-Tex Livestock Auction in Anderson, Texas where they sold on Dec. 3.

It was later revealed that O’Quinn had also bought cattle on the same closed account from the Brazos Valley Livestock Auction, located in Bryan, Texas in Dumas’ region, and the suspect sold them at the Columbus Livestock Auction, located in Columbus, Texas.

Through investigative efforts, O’Quinn was located and arrested by the Walker County Sheriff’s Department and Mast on Jan. 8.  The suspect was taken to the Walker County Jail for felony theft of livestock, parole violation and other unrelated felony warrants. The eight head of stolen cattle have been recovered.

“This case provides a great example of TSCRA special rangers, livestock auctions and local law enforcement working together to solve cattle theft cases,” said Belt. “TSCRA would like to thank the Hills Prairie Livestock Auction, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Brian Garvel for their work and assistance in this investigation.”

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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.