Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Brand Commission Inspectors and St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Officers arrested two St. Landry Parish men this week and recovered saddles, tack and equipment worth $24,600, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said.

Tommy Wayne Denton, 23, and James Joseph Gilbert, 20, both of Opelousas were charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft in seven different cases for allegedly stealing items valued at $26,600.

Among the items recovered were four saddles, assorted tack, a 16-foot flatbed utility trailer, an all-terrain vehicle, a dirt bike and two lawn tractors. A missing saddle valued at $2000 has not yet been recovered.

LDAF Brand Inspector Johnny Steib began investigating the first case in mid May. “We’d been working this case for several months before we received the latest information that actually led to the arrests,” Steib said.

“Both the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and LDAF Brand Inspectors did an impressive job investigating this case,” Strain said. “It was good old-fashioned police work and a keen eye that eventually led to the arrests.”

LDAF Brand Enforcement Officers have regulatory powers authorizing them to investigate farm related crimes.

-30-