Bonds total $50K for man, 72, charged in rash of area horse thefts
Clifton Ray Goines. (Jail photo)
NAVARRO COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) A man has been arrested in connection with a rash of horse thefts in the eastern part of Navarro County.
The Clifton Ray Goines, 72, was booked Wednesday evening.
He remained jailed Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $50,000.
He's charged with two counts of theft of livestock.
Sheriff Elmer Tanner said they arrested him at his home near Kerens and took him into custody Wednesday afternoon after obtaining a warrant.
"My detectives have worked diligently on this, and I'm proud to say we made an arrest today," Tanner told KWTX.
According to Tanner, investigators believe Goines was stealing horses, then selling them to be slaughtered.
"We believe they were going to kill pens," said Tanner.
They've linked Goines to at least five of the horses, but believe he's responsible for stealing and selling more, Tanner says.
He says they've had about seven horses reported missing or stolen over the past three weeks.
"It started becoming apparent these horse were not missing, they were being stolen," said Tanner.
They've located two of the horses, alive, in other areas of Texas and have a hold on them, Tanner said.
However, it's possible others did not survive.
Tanner says social media helped aid in the investigation.
"We started to put the pieces of the puzzle together and got a break in the case, and from that we were able to develop a suspect," said Tanner.
Tanner says the reports of missing and stolen horses are still coming in.
The sheriff's office has enlisted the assistance of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in the ongoing investigation.