Last defendant sentenced in Rusk County cattle theft

Charlie Long, 36, of Nacogdoches, was sentenced Thursday in connection to a 2014 cattle theft case in Rusk County. His arrest and subsequent guilty plea were the result of an investigation by TSCRA Special Ranger Larry Hand with  assistance from TSCRA Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson and local officials.
On Oct. 23, 2014, Long and three co-conspirators — Christian Collins, Jovante Fields and Gwivonna Long, all of Nacogdoches – cut a lock to unlawfully enter the property of Jackie Risinger. The perpetrators stole four cows from the property, later selling them at a livestock auction in Athens. The cattle were recovered at the sale barn, and Hand, along with local law enforcement officials, began the process of tracking down the suspects. In the subsequent two-and-a-half years each perpetrator was found, arrested, convicted and sentenced for their crime.
The last of the three, Charlie Long, was sentenced on Thursday to two years in state prison plus court costs and a $75 donation to TSCRA’s Operation Cow Thief. He will be incarcerated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
“The road to justice isn’t always quick, but ultimately justice will prevail,” said Hand. “This case demonstrates the extent to which we work with our many partners in the law enforcement community for the good of Texas’ ranchers and the entire livestock industry.”
Hand and TSCRA would like to thank the Rusk County District Attorney’s Office, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the conviction and sentencing of Long and his co-conspirators.