MONTICELLO — Cattle stolen in a heist earlier this month wererecovered and returned this week, according to the sheriff’sdepartment.

Donald Wayne Reid, 37, of Rt. 2 Box 145L Monticello, wasreleased on a $10,000 bond Friday after being charged with twocounts of livestock theft, said Criminal Investigator Jimmy Barton.He faces a maximum fine of $10,000 and five years imprisonment oneach count.

“It will be presented to the grand jury in December,” hesaid.

The first theft occurred on June 3, Barton said. Ten cows werestolen from Earl Tolar on Dummyline Road. In addition, two calveslater died because their mothers were stolen and they were unableto nurse.

“We had a suspect, but we didn’t put it all together until wesolved the second one,” Barton said.

After the theft, Barton said he contacted the Agriculture TheftBureau and sale barns.

A steer and two cows were then stolen on July 2 from JimmyHammond of Hammond Road. The three head of cattle were sold to aman in Brookhaven.

“He was innocent,” Barton said. “We don’t think he bought themknowing they were stolen.”

The victim took the cattle to the sale barn in Brookhaven wherethey were identified as stolen by employees there. Tips obtainedthere led deputies to Reid.

Reid was arrested July 18 and charged with theft of the threehead. While he was in jail, Barton said he was able to confirm thatthe suspect was involved in the theft of the first 10, and he wascharged with their theft on July 20. Later that day, Reid bondedout of jail.

Barton said the odds of recovering the first 10 stolen cows areslim.

“It is doubtful we’ll be able to recover the others,” hesaid.

They were taken to a sale barn in Hattiesburg, Barton said. Hestill hopes to recover them, but a lot of cattle sold there areintended for slaughter, he said.

The investigator said he appreciated the help of the public insolving the case and their tips were of tremendous help.

“This is a good example of how much the public can assist lawenforcement by watching their neighborhoods,” he said.