TREE THIEF: Man Facing Federal Charges

A Des Moines man is facing federal charges for stealing walnut trees off federal property.

Authorities arrested 49 year old Randall Walker in the case.The indictment alleges Walker stole walnut trees from four central Iowa areas all owned by the Army Corps of Engineers between January and April of this year.

The trees are valued at nearly $40,000.

Walker is also charged with theft of scrap metal from one of the sites.

He faces maximum fines of $250,000 on each of the five charges. His trial is scheduled for October 29.