Posted on 05/22/2022 6:29:56 AM PDT by deport
Lawmen came to remote Loving County, Texas, on Friday to arrest the county judge, a former sheriff’s deputy and two ranch hands on one of Texas’ oldest crimes — cattle theft.
This West Texas county, population 57 as of the last U.S. Census Bureau estimate. Spread over 671 square miles of mesquite-studded desert, Loving County has no school, no church, no grocery store and no bank. The few children who live there board the bus in the only town, Mentone (population 22), and travel about 35 miles each morning and afternoon to attend school.
Jeremy Fuchs, a spokesman for the association, said the yearlong investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible. The idea that the judge — who is paid $133,294 annually — would get picked up for cattle rustling was just too much for Susan Hays, a Texas election lawyer who’s wrangled with the Joneses in the past.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Sounds like he would have been better off to steal drill pipe.
“Hang Em High”
Lots of that around Texas also, but not sure about Loving Cty.
Why is this even a county?
Where is Judge Roy Bean when we need him?
I did not steal a cow. I merely found a rope and brought it home with me. How was I expected to know there was a cow tied to the other end of the rope? This is my story and I am sticking to it.
Why is it a county?
Because those people like their public sector salaries, health bennies, and pensions.
And why does a county with a two-digit population need a judge making over $130,000 a year?
“And why does a county with a two-digit population need a judge making over $130,000 a year?”
Justice of the Peace at $100K is pretty good money also.
Loving County is about half the size of Rhode Island, so not small, political subdivision wise anyway.
It’s a bit North and West of Pecos and Monahans. Never been to Loving County but if it’s anything like Pecos and Monahans, I have no desire to go.
From your link, I count approximately 14 county officials, out of a population of 57.
That includes a judge, county attorney, 4 commissioners, justice of the peace, constable, sheriff, auditor, tax collector, tax appraiser, water commissioner, and district clerk.
That's around 25% of the county population.
Loving County is no place for old men.
Used to be more people in it.
Also, state/federal staffing requirements. I’m not sure if Texas has the legal ability to dissolve or merge a county.
“...the county’s budget has grown from about $2 million in 2008 to more than $28 million. “
28000000/57 = $491,000/resident
“And why does a county with a two-digit population need a judge making over $130,000 a year?”
It’s a great racket, if you can get into it!
Because county boundaries are a matter of law, and are not easily changed.
At any given time there are several thousand oil field workers in Mentone. There’s also a new frac sand facility going in that will employ between 2 and 3 hundred miners at an average wage of around $60k.
None of the above live in the county as there’s no housing. They stay in man-camps for a week or more at a time.
https://www.co.loving.tx.us/upload/page/10135/2022%20ADOPTED%20BUDGET.pdf
Where the money goes as written on paper.......
Just wait till he finds out how profitable catalytic Converters are
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