On July 19, investigators with the Alabama Forestry Commission arrested Neal Kidd, aged 51, of Lower Peachtree, Alabama (Wilcox County) for theft of timber.

He was charged with Theft of Property, First Degree, for allegedly taking timber valued at over $15,000 from a landowner in Lowndes County.

If convicted of this Class B felony, the suspect could be sentenced to jail for 2-20 years and/or fined up to $30,000.

Kidd was placed in the Lowndes County Jail and bond was set at $75,000.

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) is committed to reducing the number of forestry-related crimes that occur each year across the state.

These crimes generate losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to landowners, the timber industry, and Alabama’s economy.

The AFC provides an Arson/Forest Crimes Hotline so that citizens can call and report theft of timber, vandalism or theft of harvesting equipment, and wildland arson.

The toll-free number is 1-800-222-2927. Any information provided is confidential and the caller remains anonymous.