News & Views: Felled by DNA

This article is from Issue 104 of Woodcraft Magazine.

Federal prosecutors in Washington used DNA from a big leaf maple tree to convict 39-year old Justin Wilke of five offenses related to an illegal logging operation. That operation also ignited a fire that burned 3,300 acres and did $4.2 million in damage. A research geneticist with the U.S. Forest Service testified that DNA from lumber sold by Wilke to a mill matched that of poached trees nearby. According to prosecutors, it was the first use of tree DNA evidence in a federal criminal trial.