Tri-county cattle theft case generates arrests
TSCRA inspector key to evidence collection

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

TSCRA Field Inspector John Bradshaw (center) frequently talks to sale barn employees and cattlemen to gather information about ongoing cases. Bradshaw is one of 31 field inspectors employeed by TSCRA. In 2002, they recovered, or accounted for, over $5.1 million in stolen livestock and ranch equipment. -- Staff photo by Lynn Montgomery

April 3, 2003 -- Three Northeast Texas men have been arrested for cattle thefts in Hopkins, Lamar, and Red River counties; and more arrests are forthcoming, according to John Bradshaw, field inspector for Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Bradshaw estimates the three-county thefts could involve as many as 70 head of beef cattle.

Arrested are Reginald Young, 26, of Paris; Raymond J. Carbone, 59, Sulphur Springs; and Gregory W. Schafer, 36, formerly of Hooks. Carbone, the first of the three to be arrested, was taken in on March 19.

"There's more than just these guys," Bradshaw said on March 27. "Actually, there are three more suspects, but they will remain nameless until they are arrested."

The thefts allegedly conducted by the six men involved in the cattle theft ring began just before Christmas 2002, according to Bradshaw. The other incidents occurred "the last part of January; and they were going to hit (a ranch) the last part of February, but the ice storm knocked them out; so they hit the first week of March."

Some of the suspects were also allegedly involved in a cattle theft case in May 2002.

The group's latest incident was resolved on March 15 when four head of the stolen livestock were found at a sale barn in Paris, according to Bradshaw. "They cattle had sold, but they hadn't cut the check yet so no one lost out," he added.

Following a property hearing a few days later, the cattle were returned to their owner in the Birthright community, Hopkins County.

Bradshaw pointed out that often the cattle can be traced from the sale barn, then to the buyer, but some end up at the packing plant before the investigation concludes. "Then it's too late" for property recovery, he added.

When theft cases involving Texas and Oklahoma farms and ranches occur, TSCRA field inspectors are key to their resolve. Bradshaw is one of 31 field inspectors for TSCRA, and each are certified peace officers with Special Ranger commissions.

In 2002, stolen livestock and ranch equipment worth more than $5.1 million was recovered or accounted for by TSCRA. Their field inspectors investigated 1,148 cases in Texas and Oklahoma, primarily involving stray or stolen livestock. Working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, the inspectors recovered or accounted for 2,872 head of cattle, 75 horses, 14 trailers, 18 saddles and miscellaneous ranch property, which had a total market value of $5,061,886. The average value of property recovered or accounted for each day was $13,868.

Another case Bradshaw is currently working is also in Hopkins County. On March 2, eight Angus bulls were stolen, along with a 20-foot gooseneck trailer, from a pasture near I-30. Bradshaw said he "knows who they (thieves) are" but he is still collecting evidence.

Besides the field inspectors, TSCRA also employees 70 market inspectors who identify over 4.5 million head of cattle at the time of sale at more than 125 auction markets in Texas each year. Similarly, inspections of all horses processed at commercial processing plants in Texas fall under TSCRA's responsibility.

The market inspectors report their findings to TSCRA's Fort Worth headquarters, where the information is processed for computer retrieval.

TSCRA is a 126-year-old trade organization whose 13,200 members manage approximately 2.7 million cattle on 58.9 million acres of range and pasture land.