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NEWS
Man Arrested Again for Alleged Timber Theft
September 4, 2018
Baton Rouge, La. (September 4, 2018) – Investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) have again charged a 39-year-old man in connection with timber theft.
Derma Brent O’Neal, who is currently behind bars in Livingston Parish Detention Center on two other unrelated timber theft charges, is now accused of theft in Tangipahoa Parish.
In June 2018, LDAF enforcement agents received a complaint from an Amite, La. landowner who stated that she entered into an agreement with O’Neal to harvest approximately 20 acres of timber on her property.
Following an investigation, it was determined that the logging operation began in December 2017 and lasted until June 2018. During this time, 19 loads of hardwood timber were hauled off of the landowner’s property and sold to various sawmills in southeast Louisiana. LDAF investigators discovered that the money O’Neal collected from the sale of the timber was not fully paid to the landowner.
The value of the timber is approximately $7,340. Authorities say O’Neal owes the landowner $6,200. O’Neal was charged with theft on Aug. 27. If convicted, O’Neal faces up to ten years in prison and/or could be fined up to $10,000.
O’Neal’s last known address was 20976 Nevada St., Livingston, La. Investigators said he was living in a camper in Tangipahoa Parish at the time of his most recent alleged theft.