A former Wayne County man convicted of logging theft in Seneca County faces similar charges in Ontario County.
Christopher G. Devay, 31, of Liverpool, Onondaga County, was charged Tuesday by Ontario County Sheriff’s Office investigators with third-degree grand larceny (class D felony).
Sheriff’s office Lt. Greg Shaffer said Devay agreed to pay an Ontario County landowner for logs removed from the landowner’s property in January and February of 2018, but never did. The land is on Pearl Street Extension in Hopewell, near Clifton Springs.
Police said Devay harvested about 400 logs from the property. Their value is estimated at roughly $10,000.
Last month, Devay was sentenced in Seneca County Court to five years of probation after pleading guilty to a felony charge of fourth-degree grand larceny.
In that case, Devay — who lived in North Rose at the time — was hired to log a Fayette property and agreed to pay the landowner 50 percent of the profits, but never paid.
As part of his guilty plea in Seneca County, he agreed to pay more than $7,200 in restitution.
Devay faces similar charges in Wayne County, where he is accused of taking timber off two properties in Arcadia but not paying the landowners.
Shaffer said Ontario County started its investigation last fall, working with investigators in Seneca and Wayne counties.
“We followed up with many Ontario County landowners regarding his logging practices and we believe some were paid less than timber values at that time, but nothing else rose to the level of criminality,” Shaffer said.
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