The trial of a Minnesota man accused of stealing cattle from an auction barn he co-owns in Watertown, South Dakota, has been moved for a second time.

According to the South Dakota State Attorney’s Offi ce, Joe Varner, Pierz, was indicted by a grand jury in Codington County (South Dakota) last July, with Aggravated Grand Theft.

He is accused of taking 188 cattle that were under U.S. Bankruptcy Court control and were allegedly taken from Watertown Livestock Auction in March, 2009. Varner has pleaded not guilty.

In a phone conversation Jan. 8, Varner said that he is not a thief, a crook or a liar; and that he is a victim of someone who bought $120,000 worth of cattle and then filed bankruptcy.

An effort was also made by the Staples World to contact Varner’s attorney, Michael Butler. Butler had no comment.

Varner’s jury trial was initially scheduled for September; but was changed to Jan. 4 and most recently moved to March 1, according to the Codington County clerk’s office.

Varner is an owner and/ or co-owner of various livestock locations throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota, including Tri-County Livestock Auction in Motley.

If convicted, Varner faces up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.