Special Ranger Activity

TEAMING UP WITH PACO FEEDYARD

Vince Montes and PACO Feedyard answered the call to assist special rangers with inspecting more than 2,000 head of cattle.

In late December 2021, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers Bo Fox, Jay Foster and Ben Eggleston conducted an investigation requiring more than 2,000 head of cattle to be inspected at PACO Feedyard LLC near Friona.

The special rangers contacted PACO Operations Manager Vince Montes, who agreed to meet with them Dec. 31, 2021.

“Feedyards hold tens of thousands of head of cattle,” Fox says. “Inspecting a particular few thousand head out of the large group can be very difficult without the assistance of the feedyard staff.”

Montes and his staff led special rangers to each pen with the cattle in question, and moved the cattle down alleys for easy inspection by the special rangers.

“Montes and his staff went above and beyond to make our jobs as easy as possible,” Fox says. “Their assistance brought a quick resolution to the investigation at hand.”

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers present Vince Montes, pictured center, with a custom TSCRA sign and a certificate of appreciation for all his hard work and dedication. Pictured left is Special Ranger Chris Ward, right is Special Ranger Jay Foster.

CUSHING MAN SENTENCED IN LARCENY OF LIVESTOCK CASE

Leonard Hayden Hargrove sentenced for cattle theft.

Leonard Hayden Hargrove was convicted of larceny of livestock within the District Court of Payne County. The 21-year-old was arrested July 23, 2020, after criminal charges were filed by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Bart Perrier.

Hargrove was reportedly charged with two counts of larceny of livestock from a victim near Yale, Oklahoma. During late winter 2020, the victim, who is a relative of Hargrove, became suspicious Hargrove stole cattle from a family- Bart Perrier operated farm. Region 3 Supervisor District 4 Special Ranger

According to Perrier, who conducted the investigation during spring 2022, Hargrove stole several head of cattle from the property and three of the stolen cows belonged to the victim who reported Hargrove. The cattle were branded and ear tagged identifying them as belonging to the victim. Hargrove sold the cattle at a livestock market in Purcell, Oklahoma, Feb. 1, 2020.

On April 4, 2022, Hargrove pled guilty in the Payne County District Court, was sentenced to a six-year deferred sentence and ordered to pay a total of $5,500 in restitution to the victim. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, along with assorted court costs, and complete 80 hours of community service with a nonprofit or 50 hours with a CLEAN program.

“This case is a reminder of the importance of branding cattle for positive identification,” Perrier said.

During the initial interview with Hargrove, Perrier stated: “I knew the three cows in question belonged to the victim, because they were branded on the right hip with his brand and each cow had an ear tag in their ear with his name and telephone number on it.” T C