Darlington man charged with cattle rustling

A Darlington man is charged with cattle rustling after deputies said he shot someone’s cow to death in a field, Darlington County Sheriff’s Lt. Robin Bryant said.

David James Cortes, 37, of 625 Hidden Lane, also is charged with grand larceny of livestock and malicious injury to animals, Bryant said.

Cattle rustling is another term for stealing cattle and, at one time, was punishable by hanging, Bryant said.

The crime happened Saturday on a pasture off Hartland Drive when the resident said he heard gunshots. He drove to where his cattle were grazing and saw a truck parked in the middle of the field. The truck took off down a dirt road and the resident found one of his cattle shot to death, Bryant said.

The suspect was arrested after a brief investigation, Bryant said.

Darlington deputies haven’t made any cattle rustling arrests recently, but it used to be quite common in the 1800s and 1900s, Bryant said.

“I don’t know what the penalty is, but I doubt it’s a hanging offense,” he said. “But at one time in South Carolina that was a very serious crime to steal someone’s steer.”

The Hartland Drive cow was determined to be valued at $1,100, he said.

It’s unclear why the suspect shot the cow, but with a lagging economy, some people have been known to shoot another person’s cattle for food, the lieutenant said.

Cortes remains in custody at the Darlington County jail under a $5,000 surety bond.