A former Department of Natural Resources employee is facing allegations of forgery and first-degree theft after a state investigation revealed a years-long scheme involving falsified hotel invoices and unearned per diem payments.
Ron, your question was puzzling to me at first because I didn't understand what a timber cruise was (not sure if many do). It's more complex, but from what I gather, timber cruising, in its simplest form, is an inventory of a forest stand to determine the quantity of forest products that can be derived.
Therefore, your question is important in many aspects of timber harvesting and the investments of our tax dollars.
Seems like fraud of government (taxpayer) money is quite popular today. Is it because government agencies do not prosecute when they do find it. So fraudsters are not going to prison or required to pay back the money they stole. It seems like it's easy to get away with fraud in government so there is little deterrent for the scoundrels' who would commit fraud. I think it must be easier for government to just raise taxes than eliminate fraud in its agencies.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is hiring a Forest Check Cruiser for the Olympic Region, based in Forks or Port Angeles, WA. This full-time position involves leading timber sales programs, obtaining accurate net volumes for timber sales, and designing sampling techniques. Salary ranges from $4,517 to $6,077 monthly. Relocation compensation may be available. No degree is required.
Why is it taking a year for the prosecutor Mark Nichols to charge this guy? Needs explaining.
If this guy was in PA when he was supposed to be doing a timber cruise in Forks I wonder if the timber cruise numbers should be checked.
Ron, your question was puzzling to me at first because I didn't understand what a timber cruise was (not sure if many do). It's more complex, but from what I gather, timber cruising, in its simplest form, is an inventory of a forest stand to determine the quantity of forest products that can be derived.
Therefore, your question is important in many aspects of timber harvesting and the investments of our tax dollars.
For anyone who is interested, below is the Timber Cruising Handbook--it's way over my head!
https://dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/psl_ts_cruisinghandbook.pdf
Your tax dollars at work ... NOT!
Seems like fraud of government (taxpayer) money is quite popular today. Is it because government agencies do not prosecute when they do find it. So fraudsters are not going to prison or required to pay back the money they stole. It seems like it's easy to get away with fraud in government so there is little deterrent for the scoundrels' who would commit fraud. I think it must be easier for government to just raise taxes than eliminate fraud in its agencies.
Nichols says his office has “not yet reached a decision on this case.” --- Caught red handed so go after him.
Good article, I haven’t heard or read about it in our local news…..I had to look up what a Forest Check Cruiser was, found this:
https://www.terra.do/climate-jobs/job-board/Forest-Check-Cruiser-Washington-Department-Of-Natural-Resources-8271669/
Job Description
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is hiring a Forest Check Cruiser for the Olympic Region, based in Forks or Port Angeles, WA. This full-time position involves leading timber sales programs, obtaining accurate net volumes for timber sales, and designing sampling techniques. Salary ranges from $4,517 to $6,077 monthly. Relocation compensation may be available. No degree is required.