Farm Bureau concerned about rustling case

McCOOK, Neb. -- A local farm bureau representative hopes jail time is handed down in a Red Willow County felony case involving the killing and butchering of a heifer. Richard Neel with the Red Willow County Farm Bureau issued an open letter to Red Willow Count Attorney Paul Wood last week stating his position.

"It has been reported with some authority that their charges may be reduced to a misdemeanor and there would be no jail time. I write to oppose that," said Neel in the letter.

Neel offered several reasons he believed a reduction in penalty should not occur in the case. Among those, he said farmers had little opportunity to secure valuable assets such as cattle kept in open fields and remote pastures, often located near publicly accessed areas or roadways.

"When livestock is killed, it not only deprives the owner of that value, but also of the opportunity for future production," wrote Neel. Neel said stiff penalties can act as a deterrent for those who would copy such criminal acts.

"Mr. Wood, we ask that you help Nebraska's leading industry by insuring that criminal activity on the farm is punished to the full extent of the law," said Neel.

Neel was alluding to felony charges filed in Red Willow County District Court against 41-year-old Donald R. Slone of 804 E. Third Street. The charges allege Slone is responsible for a recent shooting and theft of an angus heifer belonging to Dan Larrington.

Slone pleaded not guilty in November to a Class 3 felony alleging theft by unlawful taking and a Class IC felony alleging use of a firearm to commit a felony. He was scheduled for a status or plea hearing in early December and subsequently received a continuance until early next year.

The case is schedule for a status or plea hearing at 1 p.m. on March 2, 2015.

Slone originally was cited by a Red Willow County Sheriff's Deputy for three offenses, including shooting at wildlife from the roadway and hunting with artificial light.

The heifer incident occurred on County Road 385, south of County Road 725, on Aug. 3, 2014, according to court documents.

Slone was also cited by a Nebraska Game & Parks officer for unrelated game violations occurring just four days after the Larrington heifer was killed. The violations occurred at the Red Willow Reservoir SRA north of McCook and resulted in three Class 2 misdemeanor offenses for not having a small game permit and a Class 3 misdemeanor offense for being over the limit on small game or turkey.

Slone failed to appear to face the charges in Red Willow County Court and was subsequently found guilty on all four charges. He was fined a total of $950 including liquidated damages and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on Nov. 19, 2014, according to court documents.

As of Tuesday morning Slone's warrant in the county court case is listed among the active warrants on the Red Willow County Sheriff's website.