Varner caught cattle rustling
By MATT PERKINS
Morrison County Record
Joey J. Varner, 52 of Pierz, was arrested Tuesday, June 23, at the Fergus Falls Livestock Auction as part of an investigation into the theft of 188 cattle in South Dakota.
Varner, who owns 15 cattle sales barns in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, including one in Pierz, posted $100,000 bond and will have a July 14 court date in Codington County, S.D.
According to a Todd County Sheriff's Office press release, Varner has been the subject of an investigation by the South Dakota State Brand Board since Tuesday, March 3, 2009.
On that date, it is alleged that Varner committed grand theft, a class three felony in South Dakota, when he stole 188 head of 800-pound heifer cattle reported missing from the Watertown Livestock Auction in Watertown, S.D.
Varner has maintained his innocence, telling authorities that he was in Fergus Falls, as he always is on Tuesdays, when the cattle allegedly went missing.
"How could I steal the cattle if I wasn't even there?" Varner said.
The cattle were under control of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, pending a March 3 sale at the auction.
Varner owns cattle sales barns in Long Prairie, Motley, Fergus Falls, Pierz, Bagley and Winger, Minn.
By MATT PERKINS
Morrison County Record
Joey J. Varner, 52 of Pierz, was arrested Tuesday, June 23, at the Fergus Falls Livestock Auction as part of an investigation into the theft of 188 cattle in South Dakota.
Varner, who owns 15 cattle sales barns in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, including one in Pierz, posted $100,000 bond and will have a July 14 court date in Codington County, S.D.
According to a Todd County Sheriff's Office press release, Varner has been the subject of an investigation by the South Dakota State Brand Board since Tuesday, March 3, 2009.
On that date, it is alleged that Varner committed grand theft, a class three felony in South Dakota, when he stole 188 head of 800-pound heifer cattle reported missing from the Watertown Livestock Auction in Watertown, S.D.
Varner has maintained his innocence, telling authorities that he was in Fergus Falls, as he always is on Tuesdays, when the cattle allegedly went missing.
"How could I steal the cattle if I wasn't even there?" Varner said.
The cattle were under control of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, pending a March 3 sale at the auction.
Varner owns cattle sales barns in Long Prairie, Motley, Fergus Falls, Pierz, Bagley and Winger, Minn.
