Alliance, NE– The Nebraska Legislature earlier this year passed LB 768, which created a brand inspection service area in the non-brand inspection area of Nebraska.  This brand inspection service area includes all Nebraska counties and areas of Nebraska counties contiguous with the brand inspection area of Nebraska. The specific counties involved are eastern Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Boone, Nance, Merrick, Hall, Adams, Webster, and Furnas.

Alliance, NE — Levi A. Hollenbeck of Ainsworth, NE was sentenced on August 25, 2014 by the District Court of Holt County, NE to 180 days in the Holt County Jail and 3 years probation following his adjudged guilty charge on July 14, 2014 of sell, trade or dispose of livestock without a bill of sale, a Class III Felony.  

On Tuesday, May 20, 2014 John H Ortmeier, 70, of Omaha, NE pleaded not guilty in Dawson county District Court in Lexington, Nebraska on three counts of theft by deception. According to court documents, he allegedly purchased 278 head of cattle for $285,072.00 on three different occasions from Lexington Livestock Company. A June 27, 2014 pre-trial conference is scheduled followed by a July 8, 2014 trial.  Also, Ortmeier is being charged as a habitual criminal, as he has convictions dating back to 1992.

The Nebraska Cattlemen has renewed its Theft Reward program and offers up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person(s) stealing cattle from a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen.

Alliance, NE – On March 27, 2014, James J Henderson of Verdel, NE entered a plea of guilty in the County Court of Knox County, NE for violation of Nebraska’s Livestock Brand Act, Leaving the Nebraska Brand Inspection Area Without Brand Inspection, a Class II Misdemeanor.

Alliance, NE – On March 30, 2014 all Nebraska recorded livestock brands beginning with the letters S or T are due for renewal. If any owner fails, refuses, or neglects to pay the renewal fee by the expiration date, the brand shall expire and be forfeited. However, the Brand Committee has the authority to hold an expired brand for one year following the date of expiration.

Alliance, NE – On September 4, 2013, the five members of the Nebraska Brand Committee (NBC), reaffirmed its position that violation of Nebraska’s Livestock Brand Act is a big deal and warrants increased enforcement, as well as stiffer penalties upon conviction. The Committee is comprised of at least three active cattlepersons and at least one active cattle feeder.

The NBC was created by the Legislature to protect Nebraska brand and livestock owners from the theft of livestock through established brand recording, brand inspection and livestock theft investigation.

On June 19, 2013, Micky D. Davis of Ainsworth, NE was sentenced in Brown County District Court following a plea agreement that was reached on April 29, 2013, in which he pled guilty to 2 counts of Theft, a Class IV Felony.