An investigation by enforcement officers with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry netted the arrest of a Loranger man on charges of failure to remit payment to the owner for forest products, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain said.

LDAF investigator Roy St.Pierre arrested Carroll David Bailey Jr., 34, 18049 Robert D. Brown Rd., Loranger, yesterday at his home and booked him in the Tangipahoa Parish jail as a fugitive of Livingston Parish. He was later transferred to the Livingston Parish Jail.

“This appears to be another case of someone trying to take what is not rightfully theirs,” Strain said. “Our officers are doing a fine job of protecting the public from harm and seeking justice for those who have been defrauded.”

The arrest was the result of a complaint filed by Darrell Andrews of Livingston in December 2007.

“From Aug. 29, 2007, to Dec. 7, 2007, Mr. Bailey entered into an agreement to cut Mr. Andrews’ 14.72 acres of timber and pay him $150 per thousand board feet for all his pine timber located off of Highway 1036 in Holden (Livingston Parish),” St. Pierre said.

Bailey allegedly cut the timber and failed to remit payment to Andrews for 42 loads of pine and spruce valued at $10,293. He was arrested on an affidavit and warrant out of the 21st Judicial District.

Anyone wanting to report suspected timber theft or other agriculture and forestry related crimes should call their LDAF district office or 1-866-927-2476 (toll free).

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