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RUSK, TEXAS – Convicted cattle thief Michael Bradberry, 52, Alto, was sentenced to 32 years in prison and $173,000 in restitution on Oct. 21, 2011, by 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Dwight Phifer. In another case, a brother and sister were arrested for stealing cattle.
Bradberry was found guilty in August 2011 after an investigation led by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson revealed he had stolen more than $100,000 worth of cattle and money from his employer over a 2-year period.
Dickson praised District Attorney Elmer Beckworth for his aggressive prosecution and Judge Phifer for sentencing Bradburry appropriately.
“Rural theft is a very serious crime, and today we were able to send a clear message that, in Cherokee County, we don’t tolerate theft of any kind,” said Dickson.
Brother, Sister Arrested in Bastrop Co. Cattle Theft Case
An investigation led by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Doug Hutchison led to the arrest of two siblings on charges of livestock theft. The suspects were arrested after allegedly stealing nine head of cattle in December 2008 from a U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilot who was serving in Iraq.
Diana Marie Brown, 27, Elgin, was served with two charges Thursday while serving time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an unrelated crime.
Her brother, Garrett Wayne Brown, 20, Lexington, was arrested in September 2011 in Lee County. Garrett Brown faces one charge of theft and is currently out on a $25,000 bond.
“A good tip from an informant and solid record keeping by the livestock markets helped us capture the suspects,” said Hutchison.
TSCRA would like to thank Junior Tucker, Bastrop County sheriff’s deputy; Terry Pickering, Bastrop County sheriff; Bryan Goertz, Bastrop County district attorney; David Lewis, Bastrop County district attorney investigator; Michael York, Lee County sheriff’s deputy; Rodney Meyer, Lee County sheriff; Paul Jordan, Williamson County sheriff’s office crime analyst; James Wilson, Williamson County sheriff; and Don Andrews, Williamson County adult probation officer.
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.
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 134-year-old trade organization. As the largest and oldest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 79.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services and educational opportunities for its members and the industry. |
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