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NEWS
St. James Timber Theft Arrest
March 27, 2015
Baton Rouge, La. (March 27, 2015) – Forestry enforcement investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) arrested 43 year old Stephen Ray Foust of Walker, La. on March 25, 2015 for one count of theft over $25,000.
LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said, “This arrest is the result of a four month long investigation by our Forestry Enforcement division into a timber theft that occurred between December 2013 and June 2014 in St. James Parish.”
Investigators say Foust’s company, S&G Forestry LLC, was contracted to harvest timber from a large scale property in St. James Parish. During the investigation, investigators were able to establish that Foust did not compensate the land owners for 139 loads of timber valued at $236,613.97.
“We advise timber owners to check their land and be mindful when their timber is harvested,” added Strain.
Foust was arrested without incident and booked into the St. James Parish Jail. Foust is being held on $100,000.00 bond. Additional charges are pending.
If convicted, Foust faces prison time with or without hard labor, for not less than five years nor more than 25 years, or may be fined not more than $50,000, or both.
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