POULSBO — Ronald E. Hoffman, 52, of Bremerton, is charged in Kitsap County Superior Court with first-degree theft.

A neighbor on the 20000 block of Edgewater Place in Poulsbo called the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 28, 2012 to report men cutting trees down on another property and “questioned their permission to do so.”

Deputies talked with Hoffman and another man, who showed a contract for them to remove two trees.

On Dec. 13, the owner of the property — confirmed through county records — called the Sheriff’s Office and said he had not given anyone permission to cut down the trees, which are maple. He estimated the trees’ value at $10,000 to $15,000. The deputies also found no permit was issued to Hoffman for this work.

Jefferson County showed an address for Hoffman in Brinnon, and said he has a history of theft of maple on at least three occasions.