A Larimer County man was arrested for allegedly killing seven of his neighbors’ cattle.
Michael Hester, 37, was arrested under accusations of shooting several livestock around his Buckhorn Road property, causing over $30,000 in losses, according to the Tuesday news release by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
“This crime shows a disturbing disregard for life and livelihood,” said Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer in a statement. “We know how much these animals mean to our ranching community, and we won’t tolerate actions that threaten their welfare.”
Hester faces nine counts of aggravated animal cruelty, eight counts of theft of certain animals, one count of second degree criminal trespass and one count of shooting across a public highway. The Larimer County Court also issued Hester a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, police report.
After police responded to an initial April 1 report, neighbors told them that Hester had allegedly shot their cattle while driving a utility task vehicle (UTV), otherwise known as a side-by-side. Deputies with search warrants found seven dead cattle belonging to two neighbors, along with a critically-injured eighth cow that had to be euthanized, the news release details.
“In Colorado, livestock owners are not required to fence their livestock in,” the Colorado Agriculture Department reports. “Instead, if landowners want to keep livestock off their property, they must fence the livestock out.”
The land use practice is often referred to as the “Open Range Law.”
Police ask anyone with information to contact Deputy Andrea Maxwell at 970-498-5411 or Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868.
