FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 16, 2015
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
Cell: 512-922-7328
Gatesville, Texas – Two Coryell County men were charged with theft of livestock Monday after stealing two bulls from a rancher located south of Gatesville, Texas.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Marvin Wills led the investigation and the Coryell County Sheriff’s Department assisted.
According to Wills, the suspects, James Anthony Manning, 30, and Dylan R. Robinson, 21, stole two bulls on May 1 from a TSCRA member located south of Gatesville, Texas, after the bulls strayed onto the neighbor’s property.
The stolen bulls were not branded but they had very distinct identifying marks that assisted with locating them. They were consigned and sold at an auction 80 miles away.
Wills arrested Manning on Monday on theft of livestock charges. This suspect remains in the Coryell County Jail and is awaiting arraignment.
Robinson was already in the Coryell County Jail under a motion to revoke his probation from a theft case that Wills and the Coryell County Sheriff’s Department convicted Robinson on in 2011. This suspect is being held on a no bond motion to revoke for the 2011 theft conviction.
TSCRA would like to thank the Coryell County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance with this investigation.
“While we were able to identify these bulls by their specific markings, this is not always the case,” said Wills. “It is important for ranchers to brand and keep an accurate count on their cattle. Following these precautions will help in the recovery of stolen livestock and serve as the best line of defense against cattle theft.”
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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 138-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 16,500 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.