Caddo Parish Timber Theft Arrest

BATON ROUGE – Two Texas men are accused of stealing timber from a landowner in Vivian, La. In July, the landowner, who resides in Beaumont, Tx., reported that sometime between January and June of 2019, someone cut timber on his 10 acre piece of property in Caddo Parish. 

Following an investigation, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) enforcement agents discovered that 63 year old Joe Henderson of 2145 CCR Road, Bivins, Tx., and 58 year old Kenneth Hodge of 10630 FM 125 South Bivins, Tx., had cut the property during a demolition of structures Henderson was hired to do for the landowner. 

Enforcement agents say the timber was harvested without the permission of the property owner. During the investigation, it was also determined that the harvested timber had a value of $29,394.35 and was sold in the state of Texas. 

“It is so important for landowners who live out of state to check or have someone they trust check their land frequently for stolen timber or damage to the property,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. 

Henderson and Hodge turned themselves in and were arrested August 15, 2019 at the Caddo Parish Detention Center in Shreveport. Both are charged with one count of theft of timber over $25,000. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.   Both men have reportedly bonded out of jail.