Log rustler will do time

[pscot]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371373_cedars19.html

It could have been the perfect crime. The towering old-growth cedars were on a sliver of national forest land adjacent to Kevin Moran's own property.He chopped the Western red cedars down and dragged them over to his lot before having truckers haul them away.Who, he must have wondered, would be the wiser when the 27 trees disappeared from the forest near Lake Wenatchee? But someone did notice and reported the theft.

This week, Moran, a 49-year old Camano Island resident, received his sentence. His penalty for stealing the trees, which were 400 to 600 years old and measured up to 6 feet in diameter, is one year and a day in federal prison, plus a fine.The felony offense carried a maximum sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Moran was fined $37,688, the trees' estimated market value. He faces three years of supervised probation after serving his time.

The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle in Spokane.

"Any jail time that we can get on these timber-theft cases is good," said Anne Minden, a special agent with the U.S. Forest Service.
(more)

[jody]

1. Wonderful news. n/t

[ladjf]

2. The theft was (1) grand larceny and (2) degrading the environment.

His punishment was not strong enough for the crime.

[pscot]

4. It's a cottage industry out on the Olympic Peninsula

Rarely does anyone go to jail for it.

[ladjf]

5. In that case, the law enforcement people should be answerable in

court. Apparently,the guardianship of those tress is not vigilant.

[pscot]

6. There are a lot of trees and precious few guardians

The bad guys pretty much have to be caught red-handed to get a conviction.

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. something I was unaware of

Thefts of old cedars and maples are more common on the Olympic Peninsula or in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie
or Gifford Pinchot national forests, she said, and are often done by methamphetamine users