Hawley, Minnesota, man ordered to pay $248,400 restitution to victim in cattle theft case

CLEARWATER COUNTY, Minn. — A Hawley, Minnesota, man was recently ordered to pay $248,400 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony theft of 77 cows he held in a share cow agreement.

Jason Wayne Langerud, 44, was charged with two counts of theft in 2023.

An investigator received a report about the missing cows in June 2022, learning that Langerud and another individual entered into a contract for a share cow agreement in 2018, according to a probable cause statement filed in the case.

The contract stated the owner of the 79 cows would allow Langerud to pasture and breed them on his Clearwater County property. Langerud would then transport the cows and calves to the market for sale, paying the owner 30% of sale proceeds no later than May 31, 2019.

Langerud was also expected to pay the owner for a 2017 calf crop no later than May 31, 2018.

Between the time the agreement was signed and the May 2019 deadline, the cattle disappeared. It was discovered that Langerud gave the cows away to pay off a debt, the statement said.

Only two cattle bearing the victim's brand remained on Langerud's property and, at the time of the statement being filed in court, the 77 missing cows had not been recovered.

Langerud attempted to issue a check in 2018, but it bounced, according to the statement. His court records show a lengthy history of financial issues.

In 2017, he was convicted of felony issuance of a dishonored check to Adkins Equipment in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for parts and extensive repairs on his bailer, according to court documents.

Following the conviction, Langerud was ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution.

Reviewing public court documents it appears that, from 2015 to date, Langerud has been listed as a defendant in 20 cases alleging non-payment — primarily to tire, oil, repair and other companies relating to his agriculture business, but a few to bank and credit companies as well.

Langerud — as well as additional defendants, in some cases — was deemed responsible for the debts in 19 of the 20 cases.

For stealing the cows, Langerud pleaded guilty to one count of theft in March. The other count was dismissed.

The crime has a maximum 20-year sentence, but Langerud was granted a stay of imposition at his June sentencing. He will not be required to serve any time in custody.

Instead, he will be on supervised probation for 10 years. Any probation violations put him at risk of serving time in jail or prison.

Langerud is required to pay $500 per month, beginning Monday, July 15, toward his debt to the victim. However, the full sum will not be paid by the time his probation period ends, so the remaining debt will be reduced to a civil judgment, according to a guilty plea petition filed by the defense.

Documents explaining how the exact restitution amount was determined are not publicly accessible.