A Milam County judge Wednesday sentenced William James Crenan, 59, of Burlington, Texas, to 15 years in prison for stealing more than 100 head of cattle from an El Paso rancher who was running cattle on Crenan’s pasture in northern Milam County. Crenan was also ordered to pay $575,922 in restitution to the victim.
TSCRA Special Rangers Marvin Wills and Hal Dumas led the investigation in cooperation with the Milam County Sheriff’s Office.
The theft occurred on or around May 14, 2013. On May 6, 2016, the defendant was found guilty of theft of $100,000 to $200,000 from an elderly person, which is a First degree felony. The week-long jury trial was held in the 20th District Court in Cameron with Judge John Youngblood presiding. John Graves Redington, Milam County Assistant County and District Attorney, prosecuted the case for the state and was very pleased with the outcome.
“TSCRA and I would like to thank Judge John Youngblood, John Redington and authorities with the Milam County Sheriff’s office for working closely with us throughout this investigation,” said Wills. “Thanks to these efforts, another cattle thief has been handed a strong sentence and justice prevailed for this victim.”