For Immediate Release: March 17, 2014

Contact: Carmen Fenton, 512-673-3906

Nacogdoches, Texas – A Chireno, Texas, man turned himself in to authorities today after he was indicted by a Grand Jury on three counts of felony livestock theft. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Larry Hand was the lead investigator on the case along with Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson and Market Inspector Pat McGuigan.

Raymond Perry Muse, 45, is accused of stealing cattle from two different victims, both of which were neighbors of Muse.

The investigation began in October 2013 after Hand received a call from a victim that he was missing cattle. Further investigations led Hand to a second victim and more missing cattle. In total, at least eight head were stolen on three separate occasions.

All of the cattle were positively identified and returned to their owners.

“This case required a lot of research, several means of identifying ownership including a DNA test, cooperation of the victims, and a list of local law enforcement officials,” said Hand.

“Cattle thefts in this area aren’t rare, particularly with today’s high cattle prices,” said Hand. “This is why it is so important for ranchers to brand and keep count of their cattle.”

Muse surrendered himself Monday and was released on a $50,000 bond.

Hand says the investigation is ongoing.

TSCRA would like to thank David Crisp, detective with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department, the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s Office, and Dr. James Derr with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University for their assistance with this case.

###

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 137-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 16,000 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.