3 charged in recent cattle and tractor thefts in McMinn Co.

MCMINN CO, Tenn. (WDEF) — Several suspects have been charged in recent thefts of cattle and tractors in McMinn County, along with other livestock thefts in surrounding counties.

According to McMinn Co. Sheriff, Joe Guy, deputies with the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office investigated a report of a stolen Kubota tractor in early October.

The report was from County Road 446 near Englewood.

During the investigation, Gary Hill (of Monroe County) was found as the suspect in the theft.

Detectives discovered the tractor had been taken to Bristol. Tenn. and then to Hiwassee, Ga. shortly after.

Detective Amber Cook found the individual in Georgia and the tractor was recovered.

In early December, McMinn Co. deputies responded to a report of five stolen cattle near Englewood.

This was located at County Road 419 near Englewood, Tenn.

Pictures of the suspect vehicle(s) and the cattle trailer were found during the initial report.

This information was posted on social media for public assistance.

During the course of the investigation, Gary Hill was identified as a suspect in the theft of the cattle.

Thomas ‘Dewayne’ Pressley of Meigs Co. was also found in association to this crime.

Sheriff Guy explained, ““Our Detectives, along with State Ag Crimes investigator Clint Brookshire, found Mr. Dewayne Pressley and Ms. Donna Vaughn were directly involved in the theft along with Mr. Gary Hill. The cattle were located in Lincoln County and were returned to the owner. Over the course of the next few days, McMinn County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sweetwater Police, and Detectives and Agent Brookshire worked extensively on the case. Dewayne Pressley and Donna Vaughn were located in Rural King Parking lot in Sweetwater on Dec. 6 and were taken into custody.”

On December 7, Corporal Caleb Latham established contact with Hill and was able to negotiate a peaceful surrender.

Hill was safely taken into custody and transported to the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department where he is being held on the following charges:

• Theft over $5,000 for theft of the cattle
• Illegal Possession or Fraudulent use of credit/debit card x2- Athens City Police Department
• Theft of Property for theft of horses- Monroe County Sheriff’s Department
• Theft of Property for theft of horses- Loudon County Sheriff’s Department
• Violation of Parole- Blount County Sheriff’s Department

He also faces charges in surrounding counties for theft in other livestock.

Pressley and Vaughn are also being held on theft charges over $5,000 in relation to cattle theft.

“The officers from different agencies working together brought a timely resolution to these cases,” added Sheriff Guy, “I certainly commend Detective Amber Cook for her leadership in pursuing the offenders.”

INFORMATION COURTESY OF JOE GUY.