FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2025
Suspect
arrested on charge of timber theft in Liberty County
LIBERTY, Texas – Gabriel Burress,
37, of Rye, Texas, was arrested Wednesday, Jan.15, 2025, in Liberty County for Unauthorized
Harvesting of Timber valued between $500 - $20,000, a state jail felony.
Burress was arrested by the Liberty
County Sheriff's Office Criminal Interdiction Unit and Texas A&M Forest
Service Law Enforcement Department after a warrant was issued by Judge Cody
Parrish, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, on Jan. 14, 2025.
The victims in this case are the
landowners of approximately 1/2 acre, among a series of 1/2- acre tracts, in
Liberty County who do not permanently reside on this property. The landowners’ property,
along with adjoining properties, was harvested while they were not present. A
timber theft tip was submitted to the Texas A&M Forest Service Timber Theft
Hotline by several concerned neighboring landowners.
A formal investigation into the suspicious
timber harvesting began Dec. 17, 2024, by the Texas A&M Forest Service Law
Enforcement Department. This investigation revealed that Burress had no authorization
from the landowners to harvest timber.
“Through the diligent work by
Investigator Marshall Odom and with the help of Liberty County Sheriff's Office,
we were able to locate and arrest Burress without incident,” said Josh Mizrany,
Texas A&M Forest Service Assistant Chief Law Enforcement Officer. “Texas
A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Department works to protect Texas
timberland owners and their natural resource assets."
While Burress was arrested for
Unauthorized Harvesting of Timber, additional charges will be filed against him
due to new implications of HB1772 (Timber Asset Protection
Act) that took effect Sept. 1, 2023.
“Marshall Odom, Texas A&M
Forest Service’s investigator, did an excellent job of finding the suspect that
hauled the logs, interviewing him and providing me with probable cause to sign
this warrant,” said Judge Parrish. “Timber theft in the north end of Liberty
County needs to be decreased.”
Burress’ hearing will be held in
district court at a later date. If convicted, Burress could face up to two
years in a state jail facility and/or a $10,000 fine.
Texas A&M Forest Service Law
Enforcement Officers are asking that any landowners in the Big Thicket Lake
Estates area to visit their property to inspect for any unauthorized timber
removal.
To prevent timber theft, landowners
should:
- Visit
their property frequently.
- Have
someone they know and trust report any cutting on their land immediately.
- Never sign
a contract without checking several references of the buyer.
- Insist on
getting bids for their timber.
- Mark all
property lines to assure cutting on adjacent property does not encroach on
theirs.
- Utilize
trail/deer cameras on their property that can record suspicious activity or
individuals.
- Always
hold their timber contractor to the agreed upon term.
Landowners who are unfamiliar with
selling their timber are urged to contact their local Texas A&M Forest
Service office. Texas A&M Forest Service field staff assists landowners with
the process of securing the services of a professional resources manager to
help select trees for harvest, estimate values and find potential buyers.
To report suspected timber theft or
suspicious activity, call the Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement
Timber Theft Hotline at 1-800-364-3470. The Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement
Department works with local officials to help bring those responsible for
timber theft and other violations of the natural resources code to justice.
To contact a Texas A&M Forest
Service Law Enforcement Investigator your area, please visit https://ticc.tamu.edu/Documents/Home/LE_Map.pdf.
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Timber Theft Hotline: 1-800-364-3470
Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Josh Mizrany, Assistant Chief Law Enforcement
Officer, jmizrany@tfs.tamu.edu,
936-295-5688
Communications Office, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-458-6606