08/19/2008

Associated Press

Four central Missouri teenagers are charged with stealing a herd of cattle, loading them into a trailer and hauling the animals to an auction where they were sold.

Miller County sheriff's deputies said Monday the youths were arrested after investigators found the suspects had rented a trailer to haul the livestock to the Regional Stockyard in Vienna. The eight head of cattle were stolen from a farm in Eldon last month.

Deputies said Cody Dinwiddle, Brandon Chapman, Patrick Reed and Joshua Gibbs are charged with felony theft of an animal and receiving stolen property of $500 or more. Bond on each is $50,000.

On Aug. 12, the sheriff’s department received an anonymous tip that a stock trailer had been rented in St. James to transport the cattle to Vienna to be sold.