20 Apr Rogers County Man Sentenced to Prison for Animal Cruelty
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Tulsa World KOTV Claremore Progress OKC Sun Times
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise KOTV Oolagah Lake Leader
CF-2011-516
Traton Vanderpool of Oologah is going to prison for his part in shooting cows and bulls with bow and arrows.
A Rogers County Judge handed down a total of 40 years on eight counts of animal cruelty against Vanderpool. All but two years of the sentence will be suspended as long as Vanderpool makes court ordered restitution going forward. He will remain on probation following his release from prison.
The cattle’s owners, Steve Branen and Lyle Blakley, credit the media’s initial coverage of the case with helping investigators solve the crime and the prosecutor’s diligence this year in getting a good sentence for the cruel acts.
Branen and Blakley say two of their eleven animals shot managed to survive. Several of the cows were heavy bred (pregnant) and due to calve in just about a month.
Vanderpool and another man previously sentenced, Jared Barlass (CF-2011-517), shot the cattle with bow and arrows. District Attorney Matt Ballard’s Office demanded Vanderpool be set for today’s sentencing because after initially serving a year in the Department of Corrections the court placed Vanderpool on a deferred sentence but he failed to pay court ordered restitution.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
The shootings occurred in August of 2011. Vanderpool and Barlass are also ordered to pay more than $84,000 to Branen and Blakley for the monetary value of the cattle.
Judge Denies Man’s Request to Avoid Prison for Animal Cruelty :: OK District 12
Posted at 10:48h, 29 April[…] to prison today after a Judge denies his Motion to Reconsider Sentencing. He was handed down a 40 year sentence on eight counts of animal cruelty on April 20, […]