A Woolwich man accused of illegally harvesting trees was found not guilty by a Sagadahoc County Superior Court jury on May 16 after two full days of deliberation.

Chuck Schooley, 40, of Woolwich, was found not guilty of all four counts – two counts of theft by deception, and one count each of aggravated forgery and falsifying physical evidence – related to a tree harvesting incident last fall.

Schooley was arrested by local authorities in Virginia and brought back to Maine in January after trees harvested from the properties of Kenneth Chamberland and Eric Harper were reported to the Maine Forest Service.

Schooley was living in the area where the harvesting took place and was on probation at the time.

Court documents state Chamberland contacted authorities after a friend notified him that trees had been harvested from his property on the northwest side of Route 1 in Woolwich.

According to Schooley's court-appointed defense attorney, David Spencer, the state alleged his client signed a Maine Forest Service Intent to Harvest and falsely claimed to be the landowner.

"Our position was someone else signed his name," Spencer said.

Court documents state Schooley was in custody at Two Bridges Regional Jail and was released before the harvesting took place. He shared his name, address and telephone numbers with fellow inmate Reggie French and the state alleged he made arrangements with French to harvest the wood.

Spencer said the handwriting on the slip of paper his client gave to French did not match the signature on the Intent to Harvest document. He said the state relied heavily on the testimony of harvester Ivan Martin, whom the prosecution contended was "duped" into believing Schooley was the landowner.

The defense maintained Schooley did not represent himself as the landowner, nor did he give Martin permission to cut any trees. Spencer said Martin's testimony was not credible and the state was unable to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that his client was guilty of the alleged crimes.

Schooley was sentenced for probation violation, Spencer said, adding that his client had been transferred to another Department of Corrections facility.