Branded

Branded is based on the true story detailing the outrageous events and exciting, colorful and humorous antics of cowboy Bob Harold Leach, aka “The Most Notorious Cattle Rustler of Our Time,” and the nicest guy you’d ever meet. A man who has managed millions of dollars of illegal cash, most of it said to be buried under his north Texas ranch in 55-gallon drums. He has survived 19 stabbings, poisonous hamburgers, prison tear gas attacks, and being thrown over a third story railing while in jail. A tough hombre for sure. But also, a man generous to a fault, often showering those he knew with gifts and financial help. 

Bob’s journey through life takes him from early thoughts of running herds of cattle, finding a ranch to call his own, and marrying the girl of his dreams, to a life of stealing cattle, using other men’s ranches to do it, and screwing around with every woman that crossed his path. But when Bob becomes entangled with the infamous Diamond Jim, he is “branded” like a steer, stamped with Diamond Jim’s mark for life. He is reluctantly herded into a relentless stream of crimes including theft of animal medicines, cattle rustling, drug running, fraud, porn, kidnapping, rape, prison escapes, and a plethora of other deeds that put the “common criminal” to shame. 

Bob Harold Leach's story made national news:

“This is a story that includes plenty of the classic elements of the old-fashioned western -- cattle rustling, Texas Rangers, a jailbreak and a shootout. But it also has some nifty contemporary touches, like dope smoking, rough sex, hostage negotiation, Home Depot and the TV Guide crossword puzzle.” — The Washington Post

"The most notorious of the inmates was Leach, who is reported to have been in and out of the Texas prison system. He was being held on charges of aggravated kidnapping and theft of livestock over $100,000. He was charged in July with running a cattle-rustling scheme that netted up to $1.5 million." — The Associated Press

“Some men just aren’t meant to live by other men’s rules. And some men are cursed with the job of hunting them down. Jay Kirk unspools the sordid tale of Bob Harold Leach - the greatest cattle rustler of our time - and the swath of terror he cut through North Texas.” — GQ