2 Calcasieu Parish men accused of timber thefts

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two Calcasieu Parish men are accused of timber thefts in Allen Parish.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry says a landowner notified them April 9 of a timber theft that occurred on her property.

Investigators say the landowner hired Christian Gorham to perform demolition work on an old house on her property. She says Gorham asked multiple times if he could cut or remove trees and she denied each request. Upon inspecting the property, the landowner says she discovered three large red cedar trees and a large pine tree had been cut and removed. A large black walnut tree had been cut but not removed.

When agents and sheriff’s deputies responded they found Gorham and John Myers trying to load cut limbs of a walnut tree into a trailer.

The department, in a statement Tuesday, said Myers was arrested April 15 on a charge of theft of timber, obstruction of justice, simple criminal damage to property and attempted timber theft.

According to investigators, Myers admitted he did not have permission to cut and or remove any trees and that he is not a licensed arborist in the state. Myers also admitted to giving false information and delaying the investigation by enforcement agents. He has been released on $6,500 bond.

Gorham was arrested Monday. Charges are pending.

A conservative estimated value of the stolen timber is $10,000.

It was unclear whether the men have attorneys.