EASTMAN, Ga. — A registered agent of an Eastman-based forestry company is facing a timber theft-related charge following an investigation by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC).
According to a news release issued Thursday, October 8, Christopher Bradley Branch, a registered agent of Branch Forestry Co., LLC, was arrested September 1, 2026, by Georgia Forestry Commission law enforcement officers.
Branch has been charged with Failure to Pay for Natural Products or Chattels, under Georgia law O.C.G.A. § 16-9-58, in connection with a timber harvesting transaction. The offense carries a potential prison sentence of one to five years if convicted. A court date has not been announced.
The Forestry Commission did not disclose the amount of money involved in the transaction or identify the landowner in its announcement.
Timber theft and payment disputes involving timber harvesting can create significant financial losses for landowners, particularly in rural communities where forestry is an important part of the local economy. The Georgia Forestry Commission has law enforcement officers with statewide arrest and enforcement authority who are specially trained to investigate forestry-related crimes.
The agency receives and evaluates complaints concerning timber transactions and assigns investigators to review them. Landowners who suspect timber theft or related violations can contact the GFC Timber Hotline at 1-800-GA-TREES (1-800-428-7337).
Branch is accused of the offense and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Official Georgia Forestry Commission News Release
The Georgia Forestry Commission issued the following announcement on October 8, 2026:
TIMBER THEFT CHARGES FILED AGAINST EASTMAN TIMBER AGENT
The agency announced that Christopher Bradley Branch, a registered agent of Branch Forestry Co., LLC, had been arrested in connection with a timber harvesting transaction.
According to GFC, Branch faces a charge of Failure to Pay for Natural Products or Chattels, which carries a possible sentence of one to five years in prison. No court date had been announced.
The release also explains that GFC investigators are certified Georgia law enforcement officers with authority to investigate forestry-related crimes, including complaints involving timber transactions.
The agency encourages landowners with concerns about timber theft to contact its Timber Hotline at 1-800-GA-TREES (428-7337).
Read the complete, original Georgia Forestry Commission press release: https://gatrees.org/timber-theft-charges-filed-against-eastman-timber-agent/
