Two Iowa men charged with felony for theft of Walnut trees

PISGAH, IOWA – Two Iowa men were caught stealing Walnut trees from a state park and now face felony charges.

On May 25, 2017, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau charged two men with cutting down and selling Walnut trees from a state-owned park.

Bradley Lynn Hagerman, 38, of Pisgah, Iowa, and Eric Robert Freihage, 30, of Council Bluffs, are both charged with one count of the following:

– 2nd Degree Theft, a class D Felony, Iowa Code 714.2(2)
– Timber Buyer – Bond or Accounting Violation, a serious misdemeanor, Iowa Code 456A.36(5)
– Timber Buyer Violation, a serious misdemeanor, Iowa Code 456A.36(3)

Both Hagerman and Freihage admitted to a DNR Conservation Officer of transporting and selling nine Walnut trees between January 24, 2017 and January 30, 2017. The live trees were cut down by Freihage and Hagerman at Loess Hills State Forest, a state owned and DNR managed park.

Hagerman and Freihage sold the Walnut trees to Midwest Walnut in Council Bluffs and received compensation of $4,713. The nine Walnut trees have an appraised value of over $7500.

Both Hagerman and Freihage turned themselves into authorities after the arrest warrants were issued and have since bonded out.