Following a multi-state investigation, an Arkansas man has been hit with 382 criminal charges for stolen cattle amongst many other crimes.
According to a release from the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, 43-year-old Jay Lee Parker of Arkansas surrendered himself to the Leflore Country Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 9, 2019.
According to a TSCRA Special Ranger, Parker entered into a one-year contract with a Texas rancher to care for his 435 cows and 61 calves and near the end of the contract in the fall of 2018 it was discovered a substantial portion of the cattle were dead or had not been accounted for.
The investigation, which was aided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, revealed Parker had pocketed close to $30,000 after selling 54 head of cattle at an auction in Oklahoma.
It is also believed Parker sold 29 head of the victim’s cattle in Arkansas, bringing in tens of thousands more dollars that should have gone to the victim.
In total, Parker amassed three theft charges and 379 animal cruelty charges.
His charge in Oklahoma has him facing 3-10 years in prison while in Arkansas, the two theft charges each carry a six year penalty. Additionally, each animal cruelty charge could result in up to a year in prison.