Twenty-four-year-old Lionardo Tapia was sentenced to three months of electronic monitoring for stealing over a dozen beef cattle. And while cattle theft is not exactly uncommon in the ranching industry, this particular crime was executed in novel fashion, even if it wasn’t exactly successful.

Presiding over the case, Yakima County Superior Court Judge Richard Bartheld expressed disbelief at Tapia’s method of transportation. “Who would believe you could put a cow in the back seat of a blue Honda Accord?”

Tapia was apprehended on March 5th after a man from Sagebrush Ranch witnessed a Honda Accord leaving the ranch around 7:30 am. He followed the car to the Outlook rodeo grounds, where deputies discovered Tapia in a cattle pen with 16 calves. The affidavit revealed that Tapia had cow manure on his boots and the Honda’s interior was also covered in manure.

The car’s owner, a friend of Tapia’s, stated that her son had lent Tapia the car to search for a job and neither she nor her son were involved in the theft. Tapia confirmed this, admitting to Judge Bartheld that the car's owner was no longer his friend due to the incident and the mess.

Tapia pleaded guilty to livestock theft, admitting to taking a calf and attempting to sell it. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Bartheld asked Tapia if he thought he would escape consequences. Tapia responded, “No.” The judge then asked, “What were you thinking?” to which Tapia replied, “I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Despite the seriousness of the crime, Prosecuting Attorney Bret Roberts recommended a three-month sentence, the minimum under state guidelines, citing Tapia’s cooperation, clean record, and desire to resolve the case. Sixteen calves valued at $500 each were recovered, and no restitution was sought.

Judge Bartheld, ordered Tapia to begin his sentence no later than December 12th. The judge reminded him of the historical severity of livestock theft, asking, “Do you understand that in our earlier history, they used to shoot people who stole livestock?”