[Goodpasture]

Posted: Jan 05, 2011

SALLISAW, Oklahoma -- An 8-year veteran of the Sallisaw Police Department, Wendel Hughes, was arrested Wednesday morning on 31 charges of larceny of domestic animals.

According to a news release, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Investigative Services in conjunction with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office began an investigation on December 14, 2010 into theft of 178 cattle that had been stolen over a three-year period.

As a result of that investigation, deputies say they found all the cattle were sold in Hughes' name at multiple locations.

LINK

Jan 07, 2011

SALLISAW, Oklahoma -- A Sallisaw police officer has pleaded not guilty to 31 counts of cattle rustling.

Wendel Don Hughes was arrested this week on livestock larceny charges. A joint investigation with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Department found 178 cattle had been stolen over a three-year period, and authorities say the cattle were sold in Hughes' name.

01/05/2011 Related Story: Sallisaw Police Officer Arrested For Stealing Then Selling Cattle

Sallisaw Police Chief Shaloa Edwards tells the Southwest Times Record that Hughes is on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of the case.

Edwards says that if Hughes is cleared, he'll likely go back to work, and if he is convicted, he'll face termination.

LINK

Feb 21, 2011

SALLISAW, Oklahoma – Sallisaw Police say a Sallisaw police officer charged with 31 counts of cattle rustling was shot Monday afternoon by the man who owned the cattle.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Officer Wendel Hughes, 35, was shot while driving on Highway 64 about 1 p.m. Monday.

February 22, 2011

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) - The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says a Sallisaw police officer on unpaid leave after being charged with cattle rustling accidentally shot himself - then blamed the owner of the cattle.

OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown says in a news release Tuesday that 35-year-old Wendall Hughes was shot in the chest about 1 p.m. Monday while driving on U.S. 64 in Sallisaw. She says Hughes told police he was shot by Mark Sweeney and Sweeney was arrested.

LINK
I love the fact that if the deputy is convicted of stealing $180,000 worth of cattle that he faces termination as a deputy.......

[Talisman09]

In many cases, the only difference between a cop and a criminal boils down to which side of the bars they happen to be standing on at the time.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

He's a city police officer, not a deputy. It was the sheriff's department and the state that gathered the evidence for his prosecution.

There are more than too many thugs wearing badges no doubt. Kudos to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Investigative Services and the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Department!

[_redbird_]

He was due in court today, his attorney withdrew. I bet he plea bargains and sets up a plan of restitution with a 10 year suspended sentence. He's a good ol' boy, and good ol' boys don't do time, unless the cattle he stole belongs to someone who is related to some bigwig.

02/22/2011 UNOPPSED MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS ATTORNEY OF RECORD
02/22/2011 ORDER ALLOWING COUNSEL TO WITHDRAW
02/22/2011 MOTION TO REVOKE BOND
02/22/2011 ORDER SETTING FOR HEARING
*On Demand Court Records

[Bugqueen]

I think we get a new law for anyone who steals, not only do they do jail time, no probation, but everything they own is confiscated and put towards the monetary total of what was stolen. If it isn't enough then after prison time, they pay it all off, or more prison time.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

The problem with that is that there are usually more innocents who will suffer, like spouses and children.