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

NEWS

Two Arrested for Alleged Timber Theft in LaSalle Parish

December 22, 2015

A joint investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of two men on felony timber theft charges.

Allen Dale Fife, 65, of 1365 Wagoner Tap Road, Tullos and Delaine Yocum, 46, of 200 Yocum Road in Winnfield, La. were arrested Tuesday morning and charged with one count each of timber theft.

According to investigators, Fife sold 80 acres of his timber in LaSalle Parish to Yocum who owns Southern Timber Solutions in Calvin. Fife then allegedly sold an adjoining 20 acres of timber that he did not own or have permission to sell. The owners of this property discovered their timber had been harvested and contacted the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office and the LDAF.

Investigators said Yocum admitted to not checking any ownership records such as assessment records, aerial photographs or plat book records before cutting the timber. The timber, valued at $14,003.86, was cut and delivered to mills and woodyards in Louisiana.

“It is very important that all Louisiana landowners, including those who do not live in the state, monitor or know what’s happening on their property. Timber is a lucrative industry and we will do all we can to help protect landowners from those who try to take advantage of them,” said Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.

Fife and Yocum were booked into the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail. At the time of the arrest, bond has not been set.

We encourage anyone who is aware of this type of activity to please contact the Office of Forestry at 225-925-4500.

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