Fifteenth Circuit Court District Attorney Hal Kittrell announces that Robert Patrick Terrell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was convicted at trial on Thursday, March 17.2016, on four charges: Conspiracy to Commit Timber Theft, Timber Theft, Conspiracy to Commit False Pretense and False Pretense.
Terrell was sentenced Friday to the maximum sentence on all counts to run consecutive for a total of 25 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Additionally; he was ordered to pay fines totaling $25,000, restitution of $97,921.64, and costs of court.
‘This case was investigated by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Morris Sweatt and Kim Harlin.
This case stems from Terrell’s falsifying deeds and affidavits to obtain title and timber rights of a 78.5 acre tract of land in Jefferson Davis County.
These fake deeds were used to gain control of the land and sell the timber without knowledge of the 83-year-old rightful owner.
Kittrell says, “This is why we, as prosecutors, come to work everyday, to protect our community from people like Robert Patrick Terrell. Terrell preyed on elderly land owners for his own financial gain. He deserves to be in prison. This was a true act of justice for our victims.”