Missouri man admits to theft of 42 Texas cattle, receives probation
On Oct. 27, Melvin J. Fincher, 39, of Rolla, Missouri, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections for cattle theft. However, the sentence was suspended in execution of sentence, and Fincher is currently serving five years of supervised probation. If he violates his parole, the original 10-year sentence will be imposed.
The investigation was initiated in 2024 by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Control and its Rural Crimes Investigation Unit when they were informed of suspicious activity involving the sale of livestock and farm equipment in Phelps County, Missouri, that involved Fincher.
Missouri law enforcement was then alerted by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association of a report of 42 cows stolen from a sale barn in the state in August 2024 and they made a link between Fincher and the Texas case.
MSHP searched Fincher’s property and found U.S. Department of Agriculture tags matching the stolen cattle from Texas and other incriminated evidence, according to a press release. The stolen cattle were reportedly valued at $71,078 and have not been recovered. Fincher was formally charged with one count of stealing livestock/wildlife-prior offense, in December 2024.
Fincher has a history of livestock theft charges. In 2012, he was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to receiving 10 stolen cattle from the Sarcoxie Livestock Auction.
Fincher is also facing numerous charges in Dent, Polk and Nodaway, counties in Missouri for other related criminal offenses including identity theft, livestock theft and farm equipment theft. The cumulative damages for all of the cases Fincher was charged with were estimated to be $219,000.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
(Photo by Bermix Studio via Unsplash.)
