Water Logs, Unmarked Trees Denote Timber Crime Cases

Issues with unlicensed salvage in South Carolina and harvesting unmarked timber in Michigan highlight two recent timber crime cases.

In South Carolina, two men are charged with violating the state’s Underwater Antiquities Act after they were found at a site on the Savannah River salvaging underwater logs. The state considers such logs archaeological artifacts, illegal to salvage without a permit. Officials say the men had been cited but let off with a warning previously, and were arrested and charged after they were caught a second time. South Carolina requires a salvage license that costs $500 per salvage location, and $1,000 for out-of-state residents.

In Michigan, a logging company has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 in timber from state lands, according to Michigan AG Dana Nessel. According to court documents, R&J Logging is charged with one count each of: trespassing on state land, larceny and malicious destruction, with punishments up to 10 years in prison and more than $45,000 in fines. Law enforcement officials allege the company had a contract to harvest timber on state land, but marked and took timber that was not allowed under the contract.