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

Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry investigators arrested a Farmerville man on felony theft charges for allegedly selling 63 loads of timber he did not own and pocketin gthe money.

Strain said Larry Don Slaughter, 64, 603 James Avenue, was contracted to cut a timber stand owned by Claiborne Parish landowner Darrell McAdams in 2007.

LDAF Forestry Enforcement Manager Jim Baldwin said LDAF investigations showed that Slaughter cut 83 timber loads but McAdams had only been paid for 20.

Baldwin said Slaughter allegedly sold the timber loads to mills in Louisiana and Arkansas.

Slaughter was charged with “failure to remit prompt payment of timber,” Baldwin said. The loads were valued at $72,868.

Slaughter was arrested at the Union County Detention Center in El Dorado, Ark., Strain said.

Strain praised the LDAF investigators for their work.

“It was a six month investigation,” Strain said. “Our investigators are highly trained and take timber theft very seriously and will take as long as necessary to make a case.”

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