It's Just Probation for the Cattle Rustler

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – The Tom Green County jury that found Dusty Thompson guilty of stealing cattle late yesterday afternoon sentenced him to five years in prison this Thursday morning but suspended the sentence and he was placed on community supervision probation and fined $5,000. 

The jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before reaching the sentence.  Thompson was convicted of a third degree felony and was facing two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. 

He was eligible for probation because he had not been convicted of a felony before this trial. 

The morning began with District Judge Carmen Dusek reading the charge, or instructions, to the jury followed by closing arguments from the prosecution and defense. 

It took approximately 12 minutes to read the charge.  

Assistant District Attorney Brent Ratekin began his closing argument using an easel to illustrate the range of punishment for jurors. 

Ratekin told jurors they would set the standard for justice in Tom Green County for cattle theft.  "Justice is what the jury says it is,"  he said. 

Then Thompson's attorney Gonzalo Rios addressed the jury. 

"Good people make mistakes.  Dusty Thompson is a good person and the people who testified for him are good people," he argued.  Rios asked the jury to place him on probation so he could take care of his family and his business.  "He made a mistake and he's going to pay for it."  Rios said. 

Ratekin's final rebuttal was more harsh.  "2 + 2 = 5 is a mistake.  You don't get convicted for a mistake," he said.  Ratekin went on to say a grown man doesn't harass, terrorize or bully witnesses the way Thompson did and actions should have consequences. 

Standing in front of the jury, Ratekin asked the jury, "Thompson may be probation eligible, but is he probation worthy?"

After the assistant D.A. finished his remarks the jury retired to the jury room and began deliberations at around 9:36 a.m.

The jury informed the court it had reached a sentence around 11:10 a.m. and returned to the courtroom. 

Judge Dusek had Thompson and his attorney stand as she read the sentence.  

The jury sentenced Thompson to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000 but suspended the sentence and placed him on community supervision probation.  

For more details about the trial go here, here and here.  

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I’m glad to see the bully cattle rustler finally got convicted. The big question now, is how long will Mr. Bully last on probation before he tries intimidating his probation officer & becomes non compliant? I certainly hope they place this piece of work jerk with the strictest & hardest probation officer available!

At least he's now a convicted felon for life and I can just about assure you the arrogant A-hole will never live out his probation period without his big mouth getting him into some situation that results in his probation being revoked..... Guarantee it !!!!!!
But the best thing is, he can only have pipe dreams of ever being the Constable that he once wanted to be or will never work in any field of law enforcement now that he's a convicted felon...... LOL, sucks to be him now !!!

It really doesn't matter if he received probation or ten years. What matters is he was exposed as a blowhard bully, who turned into a groveling, weepy little sissy to avoid jail time.

Not sure why the jury gave this guy probation. Cannot imagine they had a soft spot in their heart for someone who intimidates and bullies people. Some testified he was a nice guy but I think all he has said and done makes him the bad guy. I agree with giving him a probation officer they is hard on him otherwise Dusty sounds like the type to play the system like being late and always having a excuse that is not his fault. The other surprise to me was some of the people who testified said they did not know if cattle wandered to someone's property they did not know they were suppose to call the law enforcement. I thought that was common sense. Enjoy you time out of jail and you will be back in there in 6 months.

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