FORT WORTH, Texas (April 24, 2025) \u2014 Samuel Wayne Bell Jr. of Cherokee County was indicted for second-degree felony theft of livestock following an investigation by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers Darrel Bobbitt and Larry Hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August 2024, Special Ranger Bobbitt received a report from a victim about a stolen mare and filly in Rusk County. He initiated an investigation, and was soon joined by Special Ranger Hand, with their efforts spanning Rusk, Cherokee and Comal counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through interviews with multiple witnesses, the Special Rangers discovered Bell sold the stolen horses to a horse trader in Rusk County. The trader then advertised the animals on a social media site and sold them to a horse rescue group. Within hours of the theft, the horses changed hands twice, and would soon be transported by a third-party company more than five hours away to Comal County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case was submitted to the Rusk County Criminal District Attorney\u2019s Office and presented to a grand jury, which returned an indictment against Bell for theft of livestock, enhanced to a second-degree felony. Bell surrendered to the Rusk County Sheriff\u2019s Office March 31, where he was booked and arraigned before being released on bond the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The horses have been returned to their rightful owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association thanks the Cherokee County and Rusk County Sheriff\u2019s Offices, as well as the Rusk County Criminal District Attorney\u2019s Office, for their assistance in the investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"