Louisiana Man Arrested in Connection with Two Separate Timber Theft Cases

Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry reported on August 15, 2022, that James Travis Johnson, formerly of Pitkin, Louisiana, but now residing in Leesville, Louisiana, was booked into the Vernon Parish Detention Center on August 9, 2022, for timber theft and other timber-related charges. On August 11, 2022, he posted a $15,000 bond. He was arrested later that day in Rapides Parish on further timber theft allegations.

James “Travis” Johnson, 48, was arrested on August 9 by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Enforcement officers for one count of wood theft less than $25,000 and three charges of making false statements regarding rightful ownership of forest products.

LDAF Forestry Enforcement agents had previously received a complaint from the owner of a 20-acre piece of timberland in Vernon Parish. According to the landowner, James “Travis” Johnson was employed to log this parcel of land. The wood owner alerted LDAF agents that he believed he had not been compensated for all of the timber removed from his property.

According to LDAF enforcement agents, Johnson failed to pay for loads of timber worth $1,860.74 after an investigation. Johnson was arrested and placed in the Vernon Parish Jail on one count of theft of less than $25,000 in timber. The bond was set at $15,000, and he was required to post it on August 11, 2022.

If convicted, Johnson may face a $5,000 fine and/or five years in prison for wood theft, as well as a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail for making a false statement.

Johnson was arrested again in Rapides Parish on August 11 on two more counts of timber theft less than $25,000 in Rapides Parish. LDAF Forestry Enforcement agents received complaints from two different landowners in the weeks preceding up to the arrest. Both landowners hold separate four-acre parcels of forest in Rapides Parish. The first landowner claimed that James “Travis” Johnson was hired to log his property but was never paid for the timber cut and hauled away. Agents learned from the second complaint that Johnson cut a section of timber without the landowner’s permission.

Johnson was booked into the Rapides Parish Jail on two counts of theft of timber less than $25,000. No bond has been set at this time.
If convicted, Johnson could receive a fine of up to $5,000 and/or jail time up to five years for each count of timber theft.

Timber theft can take several forms, ranging from collecting timber without the landowner’s knowledge or consent to entering into a legal transaction and failing to pay the full purchase price.

“Timber theft is more common than most people realize,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “If you are unfamiliar with timber volumes, current prices, and potential bidders, reach out to the LDAF Forestry group to help you determine the worth of your timber. And most importantly, if you believe fraud is occurring with your timber agreement, contact the LDAF Forestry Enforcement group immediately as we work diligently with local officials to help bring those responsible for timber theft.”

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The public is urged to report any and all forestry-related offenses to the LDAF Office of Forestry at 225-925-4500 or the LDAF 24-hour hotline at 1-855-452-5323.