While horse theft was primarily a capital offense at one time, today it is still considered a felony in many states. Texas, for example, treats horse theft as a felony, reflecting both its historical roots and the ongoing significance of horses in the state.
The state takes this crime seriously.
One case that has only recently been released to the public involves two people, Corey Lockett and Ali Fedell, who were arrested on felony theft of livestock charges after a lengthy investigation led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Darrel Bobbitt.
Bobbitt began investigating the case after being contacted by a Houston County resident who believed her ex-boyfriend, Lockett, had stolen and sold a horse she owned.
The victim said she was told by Lockett that her horse had been killed due to a train accident after escaping its pasture. However, after being in contact with an individual who purchased a horse matching the description of hers, the ex-girlfriend became suspicious.
In July 2022, Bobbitt launched an investigation that confirmed the victim’s horse was alive and had been sold to a new owner in June 2022. According to TSRCA, further investigation revealed Lockett did not act alone, soliciting assistance from Fedell to orchestrate the sale of the horse.
Arrest warrants were issued for Lockett and Fedell. Fedell pleaded guilty in the 349th District Court May 15, 2023, and received a deferred adjudication with community supervision for a period of five years.
Lockett followed suit, entering a guilty plea in the 349th District Court Nov. 13, 2023. He was sentenced to 10 years, which was later suspended to five years of probation under community supervision and $5,000 in restitution.
Horse theft was considered a capital offense in many frontier communities due to the economic and social havoc it could wreak. However, by the early 20th century, horse theft was increasingly prosecuted through the formal legal system. It became classified as a felony, subject to judicial procedures, including arrest, trial, and sentencing.