Pennsylvania timber theft penalty

A man in west Pennsylvania, USA, has been ordered to pay US$5,000 in restitution for stealing timber, or face a six months jail sentence.

Harold Richey jr of Claysburg was told by a Blair County judge that he had until December 19 to come up with the money after he had failed to keep up payments on the original fine imposed for the offence two months ago.

The defendant pleaded no contest to "illegal timbering" charges in October and was ordered to pay over US$32,000 in restitution and sentenced to six months in prison.

His son, Francis Richey, was convicted of the same offence in November and ordered to repay nearly US$500,000 and serve four years in jail.