A Rolla man has pleaded guilty to stealing livestock after a lengthy investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Investigators say 39-year-old Melvin Fincher was arrested in October after authorities linked him to a Texas cattle theft involving 42 cows worth more than $71,000. The cattle were traced to Fincher’s property in Phelps County, where troopers also found matching USDA livestock tags.

Fincher was sentenced to five years of supervised probation on Oct. 27. If he violates that probation, he could spend up to 10 years in prison.

He also faces several related charges in Dent, Polk and Nodaway counties for other related criminal offenses including identity theft, livestock theft and farm equipment theft.