Judge Orders Investigators to Produce Recorded Evidence in Thompson Cattle Theft Case

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Accused cattle thief Dusty Thompson's jury trial has been moved to July and investigators have been ordered to produce any recorded evidence that exists by a District Judge after a pretrial and motion hearing held in the Tom Green County Courthouse Tuesday.  

Thompson was indicted on felony theft of livestock charges after an investigation by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) in Oct. 2016.  Investigators allege Thompson kept three cows that wandered onto his property and witnesses told investigators he planned on butchering them. The cows were branded and had ear tags identifying the owner. 

Investigators turned over preliminary evidence to the District Attorney's office which then presented evidence to a Grand Jury.  The Grand Jury indicted Thompson on third degree felony theft of livestock which is punishable by two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Thompson's jury trial has been delayed several times.  Attorneys say they were waiting on recorded evidence from the TSCRA. During the motion hearing Tuesday, District Judge Ben Woodward ordered prosecutors to determine if any recordings exist and if recordings do exist, TSCRA investigators were ordered to provide that evidence to prosecutors who would then have to give those recordings to Thompson and his defense attorney Gonzalo Rios. 

Thompson's jury trial has been added to the July docket with a pretrial hearing set for July 2.  

Thompson has displayed threatening behavior in and out of the courthouse in the past.  In February, Thompson threatened a reporter in the courtroom and stalked reporters at the San Angelo Live! offices.