LARIMER COUNTY, Colo — A Larimer County man is facing multiple charges for allegedly shooting eight cattle belonging to his neighbors, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies said on April 1, they got a report that the man, 37-year-old Michael Hester, had shot and killed livestock around his property on Buckhorn Road west of Fort Collins. Neighbors told deputies Hester had driven a UTV around while shooting at their livestock, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies found a total of seven dead cattle in the area. They also found an eighth that had been critically injured and had to be euthanized, the sheriff's office said.
The dead cattle belonged to two different neighbors. The sheriff's office said the total loss is estimated to be more than $30,000.
Hester was arrested on the following charges, the sheriff's office said:
- Nine counts of aggravated animal cruelty
- Eight counts of theft of certain animals
- Second-degree criminal trespass
- Shooting across a public highway
He was given a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
The sheriff's office said the Colorado statute commonly known as the “Open Range Law” allows livestock owners to graze animals without containment. Residents who want to restrict livestock access to their property are required to fence off these areas, the sheriff's office said.
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