Three other individuals with theft of livestock and engaging in organized criminal activity.

Krissa Welshans, Livestock Editor

May 25, 2022

1 Min Read
945951164.jpg
Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Texas County judge and a former county deputy have been arrested for their role in a cattle theft operation, along with two other individuals. On May 20, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association special rangers and assisting agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Loving County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Judge Skeet Jones, 71, Jonathon Alvarado, 23, Cody Williams, 31, and former Loving County deputy Leroy Medlin, Jr., 35, all from Loving County, Texas, on charges of theft of livestock and engaging in organized criminal activity.

The arrests came as a result of an ongoing, year-long investigation, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association said in a statement. “The defendants allegedly gathered estray cattle in the area and sold them without following the legal procedures set forth in Chapter 142 of the Texas Agriculture Code, along with other possible violations.”

Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, additional details are not being released at this time, TSCRA added.

Jones, Alvardao and Williams are all being charged with theft of livestock and engaging in organized criminal activity while Medlin is being charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

Per Texas statute, theft of livestock is a third-degree felony, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The organized criminal activity charges are second-degree felonies and carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Related:Kansas wheat farmers remain committed to U.S. food aid programs

All four defendants have been released on bond.

 

Read more about:

BeefRanching

About the Author(s)

Krissa Welshans

Livestock Editor

Krissa Welshans grew up on a crop farm and cow-calf operation in Marlette, Michigan. Welshans earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University and master’s degree in public policy from New England College. She and her husband Brock run a show cattle operation in Henrietta, Texas, where they reside with their son, Wynn.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like