MT judge denies request to return cattle to rancher accused of cruelty Dr. Daniel Roe By: MTN News and last updated 2021-08-03 19:05:38-04 COLUMBUS - A Stillwater County District Court judge has denied a motion to return cattle to a rancher accused of animal cruelty. Judge Olivia Rieger issued the order Monday, stating "a preponderance of the evidence" showed the rancher, Jack Myers, subjected the cattle to "cruelty, abuse or neglect" as defined by state law. The order follows a hearing held last week in which Myers asked the court to return his cattle while he awaits trial on three counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty.