Conviction in Falls County cattle theft

Reid A. Gathings, 35, was convicted of Theft of Livestock, a third-degree felony, Thursday in connection to a 2016 cattle theft case in Falls County. His arrest and subsequent conviction were the result of an investigation by TSCRA Special Ranger Marvin Wills.
On Feb. 1, 2016, Wills was contacted by the victim, who notified him that 17 head of cattle were stolen from a Falls County pasture. Fortunately, the cattle were branded and the victim also provided information on a possible suspect.
Wills, following up on the lead, identified Gathings as having sold 17 head of cattle at the Waco Livestock Commission Company, in Waco, Texas for more than $14,000. Wills obtained an arrest warrant and Gathings was taken into custody by then District Attorney Investigator Ricky Scaman on Feb. 12, 2016. Scaman is now the Falls County Sheriff. Gathings subsequently posted bond awaiting trial. In conjunction with his arrest, Wills recovered five head of stolen cattle and seized two pistols, a laptop and $5,000 in cash that were obtained from the sale of the stolen cattle.
Gathings was convicted by the 82nd District Court in Falls County, Texas on May 4, 2017, with State District Judge Robert Stem presiding over the trial. He will be sentenced May 9, 2017.
“I would like to thank the Falls County District Attorney’s Office, especially District Attorney Jody Gilliam, Assistant District Attorney John Redington, as well as Sheriff Ricky Scaman and the Waco Livestock Commission Company,” said Special Ranger Wills. “Their dedication and hard work ensured that justice was served in this case.”