Jay Lee Parker, 44, was found guilty of two counts of theft of leased or rented property valued at $25,000 or more July 27.  He was convicted of selling 83 head of cattle at auction markets in Wister, Oklahoma, and Waldron, Arkansas from a victim who resides in Texas.  Parker was sentenced to serve 12 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Officials said Parker entered into a one-year agreement in November 2017 to care for 433 heavy-bred cattle.   The cattle belong to a Texas family who lost their cattle lease and were seeking adequate pasture to winter the cattle.  One year later, the victim discovered many cattle were missing. Am investigation between the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture revealed Parker sold 54 head of cattle at the Leflore County Livestock Auction for $29,531.09 and sold 29 head of cattle at the Waldron Sale Barn for $14,287.90.