Colfax Man Charged for Stealing Over 130 Cattle

Authorities say Daniel Wayne Dockter sold cattle he was supposed to care for under a share agreement.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A 45-year-old Colfax, North Dakota man is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing over 130 head of cattle that he was supposed to be caring for under a share agreement with two local ranchers. When the ranchers confronted Dockter about the missing cattle, he claimed they were at a non-existent feedlot in South Dakota, but a search of his property uncovered more than 160 head of cattle that did not belong to the ranchers.

Why it matters

Cattle theft is a serious crime in rural farming and ranching communities, where livestock represent a significant financial investment. This case highlights the importance of oversight and accountability in livestock care agreements to prevent exploitation of farmers and ranchers.

The details

According to investigators, Daniel Wayne Dockter had been caring for the cattle belonging to two local ranchers under a share agreement from 2019 to 2021. The agreement called for Dockter to split the profits 60-40 with the ranchers, but he allegedly sold the cattle instead. When the ranchers confronted Dockter about the missing cattle, he claimed they were at a South Dakota feedlot that does not actually exist. A search of Dockter's property uncovered over 160 head of cattle, but none of them belonged to the two ranchers.

  • The cattle theft incidents occurred between 2019 and 2021.
  • The ranchers confronted Dockter about the missing cattle in early 2022.

The players

Daniel Wayne Dockter

A 45-year-old man from Colfax, North Dakota who is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing over 130 head of cattle that he was supposed to be caring for under a share agreement with local ranchers.

Two Colfax Ranchers

Local farmers who had entrusted Dockter with caring for their cattle under a share agreement, but later discovered he had allegedly sold the livestock instead.

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What’s next

The judge will determine whether to allow Dockter to be released on bail as the case proceeds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of careful oversight and documentation in livestock care agreements to prevent exploitation of farmers and ranchers, especially in rural communities where cattle represent a significant financial investment.