Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

Forestry investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) arrested two DeSoto Parish brothers on felony timber theft charges in unrelated cases, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said.

Jerry Whitaker, 53, 1409 Sample Street, Mansfield was arrested Dec. 2 for allegedly failing to pay a landowner for over 100 loads of timber valued at $112,766.

Strain said Whitaker was hired to log a large tract of timber near Frierson in DeSoto Parish from Jan. to Dec. 2009.

Ricky Whitaker, 44, 6212 Quinlen Blvd., Shreveport was arrested Nov. 28 and charged with timber theft for allegedly failing to pay a landowner for 19 loads of timber valued at $12,038.

Ricky Whitaker was hired to log a 100-acre tract of timber near Fierson in DeSoto Parish from Jan. to Oct. 2009.

Jerry Whitaker’s bond was set at $100,000 and Ricky Whitaker’s bond was set at $30,000.

“I hate to see anyone cheated out of what is rightfully theirs,” Strain said. “LDAF forestry investigators take forestry-related crimes very seriously and they will seek justice when individuals break the law.”

To report a timber theft, call the Baton Rouge headquarters at 855-452-5323.

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