Accused Cattle Thief's Trial Postponed Again

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Tom Green County man accused by the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association of stealing three head of cattle was supposed to have a jury trial March 18, but that has been postponed again.

44-year-old Dusty Thompson was in court Tuesday morning for a final pretrial hearing along with dozens of other defendants.  According to district court records, Thompson is accused of penning three stray cows on his property for over two weeks and telling a confidential informant he planned on butchering them.

As we reported in 2016, according to the arrest affidavit filed by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), Special Ranger Kenny Wadsworth explained Thompson engaged in illegal theft of the cattle from Oct. 1, 2016 through Oct. 27, 2016, which was the day before he was arrested.

On Oct. 25 2016, TSCRA Special Ranger Wadsworth was contacted by Special Ranger Joe Roberts who stated he had received information from a confidential informant that Thompson had moved three black cows on to a pasture adjoining their place.The informant stated the cattle didn't belong to Thompson, and he had the cattle at his residence for over two weeks prior to moving them to his other place on US 277 South, which is the area of his business, Southern Industrial.

In February, Thompson’s jury trial was postponed because they were waiting on video evidence from the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office.

Thompson is facing third degree felony theft of cattle/livestock of less than $150,000.  The felony charge is punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.