Ephrata resident arrested for 26 counts of livestock theft

EPHRATA – Last Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and Crime Reduction Team deputies acted on a tip from the Washington State Department of Agriculture about an individual stealing cattle.  

As a result of the investigation, 29-year-old Alejandro Buenrostro Menguia, Ephrata, was arrested and booked into Grant County Jail. Menguia was booked on 26 counts of first-degree theft of livestock, first-degree trafficking of stolen property, possession of stolen property, removal or alteration of a brand and forgery.  

“The (cattle) were owned by Royal Dairy. He works for Royal Dairy. He was selling these cattle,” Chief Deputy of Field Operations Ricardo Char said. “He's been doing this for several years, apparently. But just this time, he got caught because he was selling it locally. So, the brand inspector caught it. He notified the owner and the livestock inspector as well. And then that's how this kind of all tumbled down.”   

Char said he was booked into Grant County Jail on Monday in Royal City. 

"When he tried getting the check for the cattle, that's when the crime reduction unit arrested him,” Char said.  

Char said this is an ongoing investigation; however, right now GCSO can confirm that he has stolen 26 cattle.  

“But like I said, it's an ongoing investigation, because we are pretty sure he has stolen more,” Char said. “This is just what we can confirm that he has taken.” 

Char said he wants to remind people to do proper research before buying cattle, especially if it is from an individual and not a business. 

“I do believe that they're supposed to have all the proper paperwork, rather than having a piece of paper that's saying, ‘I'd bequeath these cattle to you.’ But from what I understand, when you're having the sale of those cattle, it's essentially an official title or document that belongs to the cow from the owner to whoever's buying it,” Char said.