• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • TSCRA Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
    • Students and Youth
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Join
  • Member Center
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Calvert man indicted in case of stolen cattle

Six cows were stolen in December from Robertson County property

Ralph Ballard, a 27-year-old with ties to both Calvert and Dallas, was indicted May 28 in Lee County following an investigation led by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers. He faces a third-degree felony charge.

Hal Dumas, a special ranger from the association, said it all began in December when a Robertson County rancher contacted him after discovering a cut lock and six missing cows. Dumas immediately reached out to the market inspectors at area livestock markets and was able to match the description of the cows to six Ralph Ballard consigned to the Lexington Auction in Lee County.

Ballard had arrest warrants out of Robertson County for parole violation on a cattle theft conviction and failure to register as a sex offender. Additionally, the truck he had used to deliver the cows was stolen.

Dumas was quick to credit the Robertson County Sherriff’s Office, the Lee County Sherriff’s Office, the Lee County District Attorney’s Office and fellow Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Kenny Murchison for assisting with the investigation that led to Ballard’s arrest. He said cases like this are a good reminder to brand your cattle and lock your gates — but even so, you still need to monitor your property closely.

“If the victims hadn’t discovered the missing cattle so soon after they were taken, there’s no doubt it would’ve been harder to find them,” Dumas said. “It pays to be aware.”
 

Written by:
Kristin Hawkins
Published on:
June 7, 2021

Categories: News Releases, Special Ranger Activity

Recent Posts

Cow-calf Corner: BQA low stress cattle handling principles

March 22, 2023

Bob LeValley, Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator Cattle producers have long recognized …

Continue Reading about Cow-calf Corner: BQA low stress cattle handling principles

Crime Watch: Heifers missing near Ennis

March 21, 2023

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Robert Pemberton, District 10 in …

Continue Reading about Crime Watch: Heifers missing near Ennis

Texas crop progress and condition for March 20

March 21, 2023

Most of the state received from trace amounts to 2 inches of precipitation last week, with areas of …

Continue Reading about Texas crop progress and condition for March 20

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
TSCRA Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Young Cattle Raisers
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Media Kit
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE