Indiana Conservation Officers have arrested a Switz City man after he allegedly bought timber without a license from multiple Lawrence and Greene County landowners between 2016 and 2019.  Many of the landowners failed to receive payment for their timber.

Alfred Barnes, 65, of Switz City, was arrested on October 22, 2020 after Conservation Officers served search and arrests warrants on Barnes at his Greene County business.

Conservation Officers began their investigation in 2016, after receiving information that Barnes had illegally bought timber without a license from at least seven Greene County landowners.

In January of 2020, Conservation Officers investigated complaints in Lawrence County and discovered several landowners had also sold timber to Barnes and that some of the landowners failed to receive payment. 

As a result of the investigation, Barnes is facing the following charges:

In Lawrence County:

• One count - Corrupt Business Influence – Level 5 Felony

• Two separate counts - Theft – Level 6 Felony

• One count - Unlicensed Timber Buyer with a Prior Conviction – Level 6 Felony

In Greene County:

• Seven separate counts – Buying Timber without a License, with a prior conviction – Level 6 Felony

Upon service of the warrants, Barnes was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Greene County Jail.  Orders for forfeiture of equipment and vehicles were also granted in relation to the Lawrence County based investigation.

The DNR Division of Forestry oversees the licensing and regulation of timber buyers and agents.  For information on timber buyers, or if you are a landowner seeking to sell timber, please visit: https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/2846.htm.