PHOENIX (AP) - A New Mexico man was sentenced to 2½ years in prison Monday in an Arizona cattle rustling case.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office said 34-year-old Jason Lon Kirby, of Datilo, received the prison term for theft followed by seven years supervised probation for trafficking in stolen property. He pleaded guilty to the charges last month.
Kirby was also ordered to pay restitution to Plateau Partnership, a company based in northern Arizona. In 2009, he entered into a pasture agreement with the partnership to tend up to 500 cattle on land near Superior from January 2009 to May 2009. According to the agreement, Kirby was paid $10,000 up front and $10 per animal per month.
Authorities say Kirby sold 191 steers and heifers to feed yards in Texas without the authority of Plateau Partnership between May and June 2009. He received more than $100,000 for the cattle.
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