Two Tulare men plead no contest to cattle thefts

Two Tulare men pleaded no contest Tuesday to stealing cattle from multiple ranches in 2015, the Tulare County district attorney said.

Juan Martinez, 26, of Tulare, stole a day-old calf Sept. 6, 2015, from the maternity pen at a Tulare County dairy where he was employed. Martinez placed the calf in the trunk of his 1997 Acura and left the dairy.

While out on bail in that case, Martinez and his cousin Raul Martinez, 24, of Tulare, also employed by the dairy, stole over $15,000 worth of calf formula and supplements between October 2015 and Nov. 17, 2015, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Seven 4-week-old calves stolen from a Tulare County cattle ranch were found by investigators in a 4-foot by 8-foot storage compartment of a carport at Juan Martinez’s residence.

Investigators also discovered Raul Martinez was involved in the theft of 18 calves from another ranch in June 2015, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Juan Martinez pleaded no contest to two counts of grand theft of an animal, one count of grand theft of personal property, one count of second-degree burglary, one misdemeanor count of giving false information to a peace officer and a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, the DA’s office said. He also admitted the special allegation that he committed these felonies while out on bail.

Raul Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft of personal property and pleaded no contest to the grand theft of an animal.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 11 at Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, the District Attorney’s Office said. Juan Martinez faces four years in state prison. Raul Martinez faces one year in county jail and probation. Both defendants will be required to make restitution to the victims.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Candice Moore of the Rural Crimes Division and investigated by detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Ag Crimes Unit.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 8:45 PM with the headline "Two Tulare men plead no contest to cattle thefts."