• 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

  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Allied Members
    • 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
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Membership Center
    • Membership Center Instructions
  • Join
  • Renew
  • Show Search
Hide Search

TSCRA News Release: Four Suspects Indicted in East Texas Cattle Theft Case

Panola Suspect PhotosFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 21, 2014
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
Cell: 512-922-7328

Carthage, Texas – Four Carthage, Texas suspects were indicted Nov. 6, 2014 after being charged with theft of livestock after stealing one cow from a neighboring rancher in Panola County, Texas.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Larry Hand and Panola County Constable of precincts 2 and 3, Mitch Norton led this investigation. TSCRA Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson assisted with the investigation.
The suspects, Stacey Soape, 42; Michael Nettles, 31; Elizabeth Newton, 38; and Herman Reed III, 32, all from Carthage, were indicted by the Panola County Grand Jury and arrested. Soape’s bond was set at $10,000 and Nettles, Newton and Reed were each arrested on $5,000 bonds.
Norton received a tip on July 1, 2014 referencing one cow that was sold by a person who didn’t own cattle. After receiving the tip, Norton called Hand to make him aware.
According to Hand the cow was unbranded and was sold at an East Texas livestock auction on June 28, 2014. He said the cow was traced to a ranch in Cherokee County, Texas. After a lengthy investigation, the cow was eventually identified by the owner with a photograph and unique color markings. It is alleged that Newton, Nettles and Reed knowingly helped load the suspicious cow into Soape’s trailer, and Newton and Nettles helped Soape haul the cow to the cattle auction.
“This case is a good example of local law enforcement and TSCRA Special Rangers working together to seek justice for ranchers,” said Hand. “Cattle theft remains a major problem in Texas today. It is critical for ranchers to practice branding so we can do our best to recover cattle when they are stolen or lost. “While the cow stolen in this case was recovered without a brand to easily identify her, this is not always the case. Branding remains the best way for us to get stolen cattle back to the rightful owners.”
TSCRA would like to thank the Panola County Sheriff’s Office; Panola County Constable, Bryan Murff; the Panola County District Attorney’s Office; the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office; and the Jasper Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

###

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.

Written by:
Jeremy Fuchs
Published on:
November 21, 2014

Categories: General

Recent Posts

Crime Watch: Cow missing in Potter County

July 1, 2022

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Chris Ward, District 1 in the …

Continue Reading about Crime Watch: Cow missing in Potter County

Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for July 1

July 1, 2022

Texas Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to 4.00 higher. Trade activity …

Continue Reading about Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for July 1

U.S. drought monitor and summary report for June 28

July 1, 2022

This Week's Drought Summary Widespread moderate drought and abnormal dryness continued to form …

Continue Reading about U.S. drought monitor and summary report for June 28

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
Allied Members
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

© 2022 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE

We Live For This Land