Missouri State Highway Patrol news release:

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announces felony charges have been filed against two individuals as a result of a criminal investigation conducted by Missouri’s Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force.

Elijah A. Long, 20, of La Russell, Missouri, and Tracey A. Coates, Jr., 19, of Springfield, Missouri, have each been charged with stealing 48 head of cattle. The thefts occurred in Lawrence County, Missouri, between the months of May and September 2009.

Coates and Long have each been charged with eight counts of theft/stealing of any livestock animal, in violation of Section 570.030 RSMo., and are currently being sought by law enforcement authorities.

The estimated value of the livestock taken during the thefts is approximately $27,000.

Capt. Luke Vislay, director of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, said the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force remains dedicated to assisting law enforcement agencies with investigations of agriculture related crimes, which continue to impact the cattle industry and Missouri farming communities.

This month Gov. Jay Nixon announced that the Missouri State Highway
Patrol was awarded a competitive grant of more than $3.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to establish a Rural Crimes Task Force.

The grant will fund 10 criminal investigators, two criminal analysts, a part-time administrator, and overtime for local police agencies that partner with the Patrol to fight crimes in rural areas.

These enforcement resources will assist in the mission of the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force, the expansion of which Gov. Nixon announced on Aug. 20, citing an increasing number of crimes being committed against farmers and their property.

The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.