FORT WORTH, TX (April 4, 2023) – Two Ellis County, Oklahoma, residents, Joey Lee Barnett and Heath Thomas Barton were charged with larceny of domestic animals. The charges filed are the result of an investigation led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Ben Eggleston.

In February, Special Ranger Eggleston received a call from a rancher in Ellis County, Oklahoma, who was missing four heifers. The rancher said the heifers were Romagnola-Angus crossbred cattle with the rancher’s brand on the left hip.

Eggleston initiated an investigation, looking at livestock auctions in the area for the stolen cattle.

The investigation revealed heifers matching the rancher’s description had been sold at a nearby livestock auction by Barnett and Barton. Eggleston soon learned Barnett and Barton were previous caretakers of the cattle.

Eggleston, along with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, charged Barnett and Barton with larceny of domestic animals. Barnett was already in custody for unrelated charges and Barton surrendered to authorities March 25. He was released on $15,000 bond.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger team would like to thank the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture for their joint effort in the investigation.

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Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s special rangers are an elite group of law enforcement officers who have extensive knowledge of the cattle industry. While they primarily investigate cattle theft and other agricultural crimes, they are well-trained in all facets of law enforcement. In all, the association has 30 special rangers stationed throughout Texas and Oklahoma who are commissioned through the Texas Department of Public Safety or Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The special rangers also oversee more than 80 market inspectors who collect data, such as brands and other identifying marks on about 5 million cattle sold at 100 Texas livestock markets each year. That information is entered into the association’s recording and retrieval system, which is a vital tool for law enforcement when investigating theft cases.

For more news releases and information, visit tscra.org.