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Last year, a Tooele County rancher found several of his cows shot dead in the Skull Valley area. Eight months later, he got a call from the man who shot them. Now, Tooele County prosecutors are deciding whether to file charges.
It was a case investigators had lots of leads on but just couldn't solve. "We followed up on almost 30 leads," Tooele County sheriff's Sgt. Ron Johnson said.
The man who confessed told the rancher he couldn't live with the guilt anymore and had to turn himself in. "He had a hard time sleeping at night, is what he said. And I believe, from most of the interview, he didn't realize how important those cows were to somebody. He didn't realize their value until he saw it on the news," Johnson said.
The man wrote the rancher a $10,000 check and turned himself in to deputies. "He paid restitution, which the victim is OK with. [The case is] still going to be referred to the county attorney's office for review of charges," Johnson said.
Now it's up to the county attorney to decide if any charges will be filed against the 22-year-old man. Deputies say he gets credit for doing the right thing, but those in the farming community say he still did something wrong.
"It's a pretty serious action. We consider it very serious," said Leonard Blackham, director of the Utah Department of Agriculture.
Utah Animal Industry Division Director Terry Menlove said, "Because of the devastating effect it has on ranchers, we certainly believe it can't be condoned."
Many feel the man should be charged with something. "We still want to make the point that this was illegal. It'as against the law," said Brent Tanner, of the Utah Cattlemen's Association.
The man's name has not been released because he hasn't been charged with anything, but deputies say if he does get charged, he'll most likely get some leniency for turning himself in.
Deputies also say the man has moved back to Utah and is at peace with whatever the county attorney decides.
