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Arkansas man faces theft charges and animal cruelty

An Arkansas man is facing 382 criminal charges as a result of an investigation by special rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and investigators with the Arkansas Agriculture Department. 

Jay Lee Parker of Waldron, Arkansas allegedly entered a one-year contract with a Texas rancher to care for his 435 cows and 61 calves.  Near the end of his contract with the rancher, it was discovered that a significant number of the cattle under Parker’s care were dead or unaccounted for. 

It’s alleged that Parker sold 54 head of cattle at an auction in Oklahoma and sold another 29 head of the rancher’s cattle and an auction in Arkansas.

Parker has been charged with 2 counts of theft of leased property over $25,000 and 379 counts of animal cruelty.  If convicted, the one charge in Oklahoma comes with a sentence of 3 to 10 years in prison and significant fines, the two theft charges carry a penalty of six years each, and every animal cruelty charge comes with a penalty in prison for up to a year.