Man Indicted for Theft of Livestock by Motley County Grand Jury

A Texas man has been indicted for allegedly stealing a load of cattle from his neighbor and attempting to sell them at a livestock auction. The incident was fully investigated by Special Ranger Dean Bohannon with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

TSCRA’s Special Rangers are an elite group of law enforcement officers who have extensive knowledge of the cattle industry and primarily investigate cattle theft and other agricultural crimes.

According to Bohannon, the TSCRA was first alerted of the situation back in September 2017, when 17 head of cattle were checked in to the Floydada Livestock Auction under the name of Potts Farms.

A man named Eddie Noel Potts from Turkey, Texas, later called the auction and claimed the cattle were in fact not his. An investigation later revealed that the 63-year-old Potts had stolen estray cattle in retaliation of an on-going dispute with a neighbor.

In a news release by the TSCRA, Speicla Ranger Dean Bohannon warns the public, “Estray livestock are not up for grabs. Even if the livestock are on your property, you cannot claim them as your own and are required to notify the authorities.” Bohannon added that anyone who finds estray livestock along a roadway or on their property should contact the local sheriff’s office.

A Motley County grand jury indicted Potts on April 10^th for Theft of Livestock, a third degree felony. On April 13, Potts was arrested by Dickens County Sheriff's deputies and booked into the Dickens County Jail. He could face up to ten years in prison, potential fines and restitution.