                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LARCENY OF TIMBER; FAILURE TO REMIT PAYMENT TO OWNER; PENALTY (§ 55.1-2839)

A. Any person who buys timber directly from the owner of the land on which the
timber is grown shall make payment in full to the owner by the date specified in
the written timber sales agreement or, if there is no such written agreement,
within 60 days from the date that the buyer removes the timber from the
property.

B. Any person who, without the consent of the seller, fails to make payment in
full within the time period established by subsection A is guilty of timber
theft, which is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and shall be ordered to pay
restitution equal to three times the value of the timber established in the
timber sale agreement, whether written or oral, in addition to any penalties
imposed by the court.

C. No person shall be prosecuted under this section if he remits payment in full
within the time period established by subsection A or D to a person he believes
in good faith to be the rightful owner of the timber.

D. An owner of land who does not receive payment in full within the time period
established in subsection A may notify the timber buyer in writing of his demand
for payment at such buyer&#8217;s last known address by certified mail or by
personal delivery. The timber buyer&#8217;s failure to make payment in full
within 10 days after such mailing or personal delivery shall constitute prima
facie evidence of such buyer&#8217;s intent to violate the provisions of
subsection A. However, no person who remits payment in full within 10 days after
such demand for payment shall be prosecuted for violating the provisions of
subsection A, notwithstanding his failure to remit payment in full within the
time period established in subsection A.

HISTORY: 2019, cc. 348, 353, § 55-334.2.