Driver Arrested Over $155,000 Stolen Cable Load
El Paso County deputies recovered a shipping container, trailer chassis and about 43,000 pounds of fiber-optic cable after a contracted driver allegedly refused to return them over a payment dispute.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Property Crime
El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrested Laron Lenard Watts, 38, for allegedly stealing a trailer chassis, shipping container and fiber-optic cable valued at an estimated $155,000. Detectives recovered the property and seized the semi-truck after the driver reportedly refused to return the shipment over a dispute about his final payment.
Why it matters
The case shows how a payment disagreement with a contracted hauler can escalate into a theft charge involving high-value freight. Recovery of the cable and equipment limits the loss for the owner while the criminal case proceeds.
Laron Lenard Watts faces a theft of property charge with bond set at $10,000. Detectives recovered the shipping container, trailer chassis and about 43,000 pounds of fiber-optic cable, but the court schedule and final disposition of the case were not reported.
The players
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
The county law enforcement agency responsible for patrol and criminal investigations across unincorporated El Paso County, Texas.
Laron Lenard Watts
The 38-year-old contracted driver arrested on a theft of property charge after allegedly refusing to return the shipment.
The details
Deputies responded to a reported theft in the 13100 block of Montana Avenue on November 6, where detectives later located the semi-truck, trailer chassis and shipping container. The driver had been contracted to transport the shipment from Santa Teresa, but the shipment was canceled and he refused to return the property over a dispute about his final payment.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Deputies respond to the reported theft on Montana Avenue.
November 8, 2026: Reports on the arrest and recovered property are published.
Legal Context
Cases in which a contracted hauler withholds freight over a payment dispute are typically prosecuted as theft of property when the owner has not authorized the retention. This arrest follows that pattern, with the charge resting on the refusal to return property that was not the driver's to keep.
Businesses that contract trucking or hauling services in the El Paso area may want to document payment terms and shipment agreements in writing. Residents near Montana Avenue are not directly affected by the recovery, which concluded with the property returned to its owner's control.
The takeaway
Written agreements covering final payment and the return of freight can reduce the risk of a shipment being held over a disagreement. Clear documentation also helps investigators establish ownership when property is recovered.
Further reading
For similar cases of freight and equipment being withheld from owners, see Property Crime coverage.
