A Clanton man, along with three other men, has been arrested and charged with stealing timber equipment.

Robert Michael Williams, 42, of Clanton, was charged with theft of property and receiving stolen property.

Other men charged include: Lafayette Alexander Hall, 30, of Alberta, receiving stolen property, possession of a vehicle with obscured VIN and receiving stolen property; Terry Tyrone Square, 34, of Alberta, receiving stolen property; and Willie Thomas, 37, of Lowndes County, theft of property.

The case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Forestry Commission. The alleged thefts occurred in Butler, Clarke, Macon, Montgomery, Monroe and Wilcox counties.

Alabama Forestry Chief Craig Hill credits Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden and his department with initiating the investigation after they arrested someone who had stolen a logging trailer. That arrest helped investigators solve cases in six counties where more than $236,000 worth of timber-harvesting equipment was stolen or destroyed.

The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the case, along with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office and the Centreville Police Department.

The Alabama Forestry Commission 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.