Jim Bob Beene, 48,  was arrested Jan. 22 and charged with one count of third degree felony theft of livestock in the case of a calf stolen from the Plainview Rodeo Arena. After the arrest was made, the suspect was charged with 2 additional counts of third degree felony theft of livestock after he confessed to stealing other calves from a rancher who runs cattle in Swisher County.
TSCRA Special Ranger Dean Bohannon led the investigation with assistance from TSCRA Special Ranger Harold Dempsey, Plainview Police Detective Coby Niell, Hale County District Attorney Wally Hatch and Swisher County District Attorney Mike Criswell.
According to Bohannon, the suspect was arrested on Friday, Jan. 22 after an investigation regarding a stolen a calf from the Plainview Rodeo Arena. Beene was taken to the Plainview Police Department for an interview where he confessed to stealing 5 calves from a Canyon, Texas, rancher he was building fence for in Swisher County. Beene said he stole 3 calves on one night and the other 2 calves on the next night.
After stealing the 5 calves, Beene sold them to a man who lives west of Turkey, Texas. Dempsey made contact with the man who bought the stolen calves from Beene and they were recovered.
Beene has been charged with 3 counts of third degree felony theft of livestock and he is being held in the Hale County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.
“Thanks to the hard work and assistance of Special Ranger Dempsey, Detective Niell, and District Attorneys Hatch and Criswell, we were able to arrest another cattle thief,” said Bohannon. “Along with branding cattle, I always encourage ranchers to securely lock their gates, keep a close watch over their herds and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement as soon as possible.”