McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

June 20, 2009

Rodeo star pleads guilty

By Kandra Wells

Rodeo bull fighter and entertainer Michael Eugene Matt has pleaded guilty for his part in an alleged cattle rustling scheme at a McAlester area ranch.

Matt, 36, of Blanco, Texas, pleaded guilty last week to embezzlement for allegedly selling 32 head of cattle in 2007 that had belonged to the owners of Ramblin Rose Ranch, in western Pittsburg County. He was ordered to pay $14,932 in restitution, and judgment and sentencing were deferred for five years.

Matt and former ranch manager Traven Wayne Clifft, 23, of McAlester, had been charged together with conspiracy and embezzlement in the theft of nearly $180,000 worth of cattle sold at three auctions in 2006 and 2007. Police had alleged the pair pocketed the proceeds until the ranch owners, Tom and Joann Boozer, of Bakersfield, Calif., became suspicious as invoices for feed began decreasing.

In March, Clifft pleaded guilty to conspiracy and embezzlement in the theft of 280 head at one of the stock sales.

Judgment and sentencing were deferred for five years for Clifft and he was ordered to pay $132,152 in restitution to Ramblin Rose.

Three charges alleging Clifft embezzled more than $47,000 in cattle were dismissed in his plea bargain.

On Tuesday, four-time world champion bull fighter and rodeo personality Matt pleaded guilty to a single embezzlement charge in the case while two additional counts of embezzlement and one of conspiracy were dismissed.

The court minutes indicates the Boozers approved of Matt’s sentence.

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