FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Market inspector suspicions lead to three arrests, confessions

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 28, 2006―Two ex-convicts and a third person have been arrested and property has been recovered by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) field inspectors and investigators from the Matagorda County Sheriff's office thanks, in large part, to the sharp eyes of TSCRA Market Inspector Patricia Harkins at the Columbus Livestock Market.
            TSCRA Inspector Tommy Johnson, District 24 , reports he and TSCRA Inspector Brent Mast, District 22, have closed three cases in an on-going series of livestock and equipment theft investigations in the counties near Houston.
            Terence Sidney, two prior convictions, Bay City, Texas; Clemins Brown, Van Vleck, Texas; and Ernest Thibideaux, one prior conviction, Bay City, have confessed to cattle and equipment thefts and are in jail.
            Theft charges have been brought against the three men for stealing a four-wheel-drive John Deere tractor, valued at $28,000 from Pedro Olguin, Midfield, Texas, in Matagorda County; six head of cattle, valued at $5,720 from Edgar Oncken, Navasota, Texas, who ranches in Matagorda County; and a flat-bed trailer, valued at $8,000 from Richard Priesmier, El Campo, Texas, Wharton County.
            According to Johnson, Market Inspector Harkins noticed new brands coming through the market at which she inspects the identification of the cattle sold. "She caught the brands and notified me," Johnson says. A week later, cattle were reported stolen from Edgar Onken's ranch in Matagorda County. Johnson checked the Onken brand and found it was the same as the brands that had raised Harkins' suspicions. 
            "The market inspectors get used to seeing the same customers and the same brands every week," Johnson explains. "When somebody new shows up at an auction market, that sends up a red flag. She made this happen by being observant. Pat caught every number and brand on those stolen cattle," he says.
            Records from the sale barn lead Johnson to Terence Sidney's place. While there, Johnson discovered the flat-bed trailer and found the John Deere tractor hidden in the woods.
            Thibodeaux and Sidney were apprehended in Bay City. They implicated Clemins who came voluntarily to confess, with the strong encouragement of his father.

TSCRA - 12 - 2006