The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and cooperating agencies have conducted multiple investigations of walnut timber theft in three counties.
A news release says the investigations have led to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges against eight suspects; however, names have not been released. Most of the thefts were from public land in the Truman Lake area, although some thefts on private land also were reported.
According to Protection District Supervisor Joni Bledsoe, the overall saw log value of the stolen walnut trees was $61,804. These trees were taken off public lands in Henry, Benton, St. Clair and Vernon counties. Bledsoe also noted the trees had a scenic value to people and a food and habitat value for wildlife.
The walnut trees stolen from public lands were taken from MDC conservation areas and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. Thefts on private land also were reported, including property owned by The Nature Conservancy.
The felony charges filed to date in Henry, Benton and St. Clair counties include: 14 counts of stealing, three counts of property damage, three counts of receiving stolen property and one count of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Eight misdemeanor charges also have been filed.
MDC and other law-enforcement agencies continue to investigate additional timber thefts, including those reported in Vernon County and on U.S. Corps of Engineers property around Truman Lake. More charges could be forthcoming.
The investigation began early in 2018 and has involved dozens of MDC personnel including 20 Conservation Agents along with staff from the Forestry, Wildlife and Resource Science Divisions. MDC investigators also had assistance from the sheriff’s departments in Benton, Cedar, Henry, St. Clair and Vernon counties. El Dorado Springs Police Department and rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also assisted with the investigations.
Authorities exercising search warrants also recovered: a heavy-duty winch and bracket stolen from a commercial tree service truck, valued at $6,300; batteries stolen from MDC bulldozers, plus damage to the equipment, valued at $1,590; a chain saw stolen from a sawmill in Polk County valued at $810; another chainsaw stolen in Cedar County valued at $810; a tailgate stolen in an El Dorado Springs theft; and multiple smaller items stolen in Henry County.
Some of the MDC Conservation Areas where timber thefts occurred include: Birdsong, Linscomb, Kings Prairie, Schell Osage, Osage Prairie, Wah’Kon-Tah Prairie, Urich and Osage Prairie. Thefts also occurred on MDC-managed Corps of Engineers property at Upper Tebo Creek, Bethlehem, Little Pomme, Salt Creek and Gallinipper Creek.
MDC asks the public to be on the alert for illegal timber theft and report any suspicious activity to the Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 392-1111. Residents also may contact their local conservation agent.
For information about the Operation Game Thief hotline, visit the website, short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoB.