Man gets 4 years in prison for cattle rustling

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jun 3, 2009 at 6:36 AM MST

Story Updated: Jun 3, 2009 at 6:36 AM MST

BILLINGS - A Wolf Point man convicted of cattle rustling has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay just over $30,000 in restitution.

Richard Holen was sentenced last week by District Judge David Cybulski. Holen was convicted of eight counts of felony theft on April 8 - one count for each rancher he took cattle from.

Cybulski, who sentenced Holen to 40 years in prison with 36 suspended, also fined Holen $48,000, to be paid after the restitution is paid for the 39 head of cattle he took. Prosecutors say he took the cattle and tampered with the brands on the animals.

Roosevelt County Attorney Ryan Rusche, who prosecuted the case, said he couldn't find any comparable cases of cattle rustling in the state since the early 1900s.

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