Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry enforcement officers arrested a Morehouse Parish woman for allegedly stealing more than $30,000 worth of timber.
Linda Hampton, 57, 12963 Crossett Hwy., Bastrop, was arrested at the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office on June 3.
“The Department of Agriculture and Forestry takes timber theft seriously and works diligently to see to it that justice is served,” Strain said.
Strain said the arrest was the result of a complaint filed by Hampton’s brother, Roy Lawson of Bremerton, Washington.
LDAF Forestry Enforcement Officer Jason Watts said Hampton allegedly sold the timber on 43 acres of land of which she and her brother were co-owners without her brother’s permission and kept the money from the sale.
“We recovered records showing that Ms. Hampton received just over $30,000 and never forwarded any of the proceeds to her brother,” Watts said.
Hampton’s arraignment is scheduled for July 7.
Anyone suspecting they may have been a victim of timber theft should call the LDAF Baton Rouge headquarters at 225-925-4500.
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