Sunapee man indicted on felony charges in neighbor’s tree-cutting case
A Sunapee resident faces two felony indictments after prosecutors said he cut down a neighbor’s trees last summer, turning a boundary dispute into a criminal case.
Michael Hayes, a Sunapee resident and former Navy SEAL commander, was indicted on two felony charges after prosecutors said he cut down his neighbor’s trees last summer. The case has pushed a familiar property dispute into criminal court, where the stakes are far higher than a disagreement over lot lines or landscaping.
The indictments are significant because they suggest the alleged damage was treated as more than a civil nuisance. In Sullivan County, disputes over trees, privacy screens and wooded boundaries can carry real economic value, since trees can shield homes, shape views, provide storm protection and support property values. When one neighbor believes another crossed a boundary and destroyed vegetation without permission, the conflict can quickly move from a private argument to a legal fight over rights, damage and intent.
Each felony charge carries serious exposure, meaning Hayes now faces the possibility of consequences that go well beyond a typical neighbor dispute. The case will proceed through the criminal justice system, with the potential for arraignment, pretrial motions and, if it is not resolved earlier, further court proceedings. For Sunapee homeowners, especially those whose properties abut wooded lines or shared borders, the indictment is a reminder that cutting trees without clear authority can trigger criminal scrutiny, not just a demand for money in civil court.
The matter also has a local profile because of Hayes’ background. As a former Navy SEAL commander, he is a recognizable figure in the community, but the central issue before the court is the alleged tree cutting and the property rights attached to it. In a town where land use, neighborhood character and lake-area privacy often matter deeply, the case could resonate well beyond the two properties involved, especially if it shapes how similar boundary disputes are handled in Sullivan County going forward.
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