(a) It shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney of the circuit in which any suit on behalf of the state instituted by the county timber inspector or by his or her authority under the provisions of this subchapter may be pending to prosecute the suit on the part of the state.
(b)
(1) Immediately upon receiving information of any trespass upon lands in his or her circuit, every prosecuting attorney shall prosecute the proper criminal action against the offender and advise the county timber inspector thereof of the county in which the trespass occurred.
(2) When required by the county timber inspector, the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute a civil action for damages for any trespass or to recover possession of any material taken from any land.