A Plainview, Texas man was arrested Friday, Jan. 22 and charged with one count of third degree felony theft of livestock after stealing a calf from the Plainview Rodeo Arena. After the arrest was made, the suspect was charged with two additional counts of third degree felony theft of livestock after he confessed to stealing five other calves from a rancher who runs cattle in Swisher County.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Dean Bohannon led the investigation with assistance from TSCRA Special Ranger Harold Dempsey, Plainview Police Detective Coby Niell, Hale County District Attorney Wally Hatch and Swisher County District Attorney Mike Criswell.
According to Bohannon, the suspect, Jim Bob Beene, 48, of Plainview, Texas was arrested on Friday, Jan. 22 after an investigation revealed he had stolen a calf from the Plainview Rodeo Arena.
Beene was taken to the Plainview Police Department for an interview where he confessed to stealing five calves from a Canyon, Texas rancher he was building fence for in Swisher County. Beene said he stole three calves on one night and the other two calves on the next night.
After stealing the five calves, Beene sold them to a man who lives west of Turkey, Texas. Dempsey made contact with the man who bought the stolen calves from Beene and they were recovered.
Beene has been charged with three counts of third degree felony theft of livestock and he is being held in the Hale County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.
“Thanks to the hard work and assistance of Special Ranger Dempsey, Detective Niell, and District Attorneys Hatch and Criswell, we were able to arrest another cattle thief,” said Bohannon. “Along with branding cattle, I always encourage ranchers to securely lock their gates, keep a close watch over their herds and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement as soon as possible.”
(Press release from Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association)
