Two Hopkins County men were arrested Jan. 2 and charged with burglary in the theft at least 13 saddles from victims in Leon, Hopkins, Titus, Taylor and Lubbock counties. TSCRA Special Ranger Dean Bohannon led the investigation with assistance from Special Rangers Brent Mast and Toney Hurley.
Bohannon received a call from authorities about the stolen saddles on Dec. 30, 2016. Bohannon was told the suspects were identified as Jeffery Wayne Horton, 54, of Sulphur Springs, and Jamie Kay Shobert, 49, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, who were most likely driving a silver or white SUV. He was also told they might be located at Shobert’s father’s house in Spur, Texas.
Bohannon contacted Dickens County Sheriff Terry Brawley to ask if he knew of the Shobert family. Brawley said he did know of the Shobert family, so he drove by the suspect’s father’s house and found a white Chrysler SUV parked in the front.
On Jan. 2, Bohannon received a call from a worker at a Lubbock feedlot stating that a subject came to the feedlot and tried to sell him and other workers some saddles for $500 each. The feedlot worker said the subject was driving a Chrysler SUV and had multiple saddles in the back.
Bohannon asked the feedlot worker to call the subject and ask if he could bring the saddles back to the feedlot for him to buy. The feedlot worker placed the phone call and the subject agreed to bring the saddles to the feedlot.
Bohannon contacted local authorities and they stationed down the road from the feedlot. When the subjects arrived, Bohannon confirmed they were Horton and Shobert and he arrested the suspects. Horton and Shobert were transported and placed in the Hopkins County Jail in Sulphur Springs. The vehicle they were using was also seized, and 13 saddles have been recovered. This is an ongoing investigation and more saddles may be recovered.
“This case provides an excellent example of teamwork and the role it plays in seeking justice for victims of theft,” said Bohannon. “Because I worked closely with local officials and my fellow Special Rangers throughout this investigation, we were able to make two arrests and recover many stolen saddles. We will continue working to recover the other saddles that may be missing. I sincerely thank all who were involved throughout this investigation.”
TSCRA would like to thank Brawley, Lubbock County Cpl. Donnie Rogers, Lubbock County Deputy Cody Stark, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum and Hopkins County Investigator Dennis Findley for their assistance in this investigation.