ELLERBE — A farmhand from Montgomery County is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly stealing cattle.
Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office say 41-year-old Kelly Lewis Wallace sold a dozen head of cattle between April and August of last year from his employer, Dale DeWitt Farms.
Documents show addresses for Wallace in both Star and Candor.
According to warrants, Wallace stole two cattle in April worth $2,056, three in May worth $3,615.90, two in June worth $2,713, four in July worth $3,803.38 and one in August worth $660.
Investigators say they learned through an investigation, which began in early December, that Wallace was selling them at a livestock auction in Stanly County.
Wallace is also accused of racking up $20,317.12 in unauthorized purchases from May 1 to Nov. 14, 2015 with a business debit card he was issued, warrants show.
Arrest warrants were issued Tuesday and deputies say Wallace turned himself in at the sheriff’s office later that day.
He is charged with: five felony counts of larceny of horse, swine or cattle; one felony count of larceny by an employee; and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses.
Wallace was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $20,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 28.
Online court records show he has no other pending charges, but deputies say he could face more in Stanly County.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction, Wallace was convicted in 2009 on a felony count of obtaining property by false pretenses in Scotland County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.