FORT WORTH, Texas (November 13, 2026) — Judd Horchem Murray of Cooper pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to two felony counts of hindering a secured creditor following an investigation by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers. He was ordered to pay $439,330.07 in restitution.
Murray entered his guilty pleas in open court before Judge Brad McCampbell in Wood County’s 402nd Judicial District Court. He pled guilty to hindering a secured creditor in an amount of more than $300,000, a first-degree felony, and to hindering a secured creditor in an amount of at least $2,500 but less than $30,000, a state jail felony.
McCampbell placed Murray on 10 years of deferred adjudication community supervision for both counts, deferring a formal finding of guilt. The court ordered Murray to pay court costs and $439,330.07 in restitution. Murray paid $150,000 upfront and will pay the remaining balance in equal installments over the 10-year term.
Special Ranger Larry Hand led the investigation with assistance from Special Rangers Bo Fox and Robert Pemberton. Investigators determined that Murray secured multiple agricultural loans using cattle as collateral and defaulted on the loans in June and July 2024. According to investigators, after the lender foreclosed, Murray failed to return the cattle or repay the outstanding principal and interest.
A Wood County grand jury indicted Murray on both charges March 30. He was arrested March 31 in Rains County.
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association thanks Wood County District Attorney Angela Albers and First Assistant District Attorney Brandon Badde for their work on the case and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Rains County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
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