A Whidbey Island man is facing charges for cutting down trees on private property near Langley and chopping up the logs to sell as firewood, according to court records.

Prosecutors charged Kyle O. Gabelein in Island County Superior Court March 7 with theft in the second degree and two counts of criminal trespass in the second degree.

In October 2020, a Thompson Road resident reported to police that she heard the sound of a chainsaw in her woods and investigated, finding that someone had cut down her trees.

A deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found that 10 trees had been cut down and split into firewood.

Deputies estimated that the firewood from the 10 trees was worth about $4,600.

The owner of adjacent property reported that he had found a large fire burning on his property. He said Gabelein came out of the bushes while he was extinguishing the fire and admitted to cutting the trees down, the deputy’s report states.

While the deputy was investigating, a truck full of firewood drove by on the road. The deputy stopped the truck and found Gabelein sitting in the backseat.

Gabelein allegedly admitted to cutting down trees on private property, the report states. He said he was out of work and having a hard time finding a job because of his record.

The prosecutor’s office delayed filing charges in some non-violent crimes during the pandemic.