Three Missouri men face felony charges following an investigation into the theft of livestock in rural Texas County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol announced this week.
Jerry S. Barnett, 38, of Norwood; Justin L. Emery, 42, of Mountain Grove; and Jared D. Mings, 44, of Mountain Grove, have each been indicted by a grand jury on one count of livestock theft and one count of stealing.
The investigation began on Sept. 16, 2025, after an out-of-state cattle owner reported a possible theft to the patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC). Investigators with the Rural Crimes Investigation Unit (RCIU) subsequently identified Barnett as the primary suspect in the theft. The investigation revealed that Barnett allegedly received assistance from Emery and Mings, who sold the stolen cattle under their own names. According to authorities, Mings sold three head of cattle in July 2025, while Emery sold six additional head in August 2025.
Following the probe, investigators submitted a probable cause statement to the Texas County Prosecutor, leading to the issuance of grand jury warrants on March 5, 2026. Barnett was served with his warrant on March 9 while already in custody at the Texas County Jail on unrelated charges. He remains held on a $3,000 bond.
The remaining suspects were apprehended mid-month through the coordination of RCIU and Operation Relentless Pursuit (ORP) officers. Mings was arrested March 11 in Wright County and is being held on a $2,500 bond. Emery was located and arrested in Texas County on March 17 and is held on a $3,500 bond. All three men have pending court dates in Texas County.
