Restitution for property damage ordered

[brownies]

North Carolina /// A young man was ordered by a judge to pay restitution to me of a little over $3000.00 for property damage he was found guilty of causing. (he cut down a number of trees on my property). The check went to the landscaper, (a friend) whom supplied a very reasonable estimate for me to show the judge. My question is, am I leagly required to have this work done, or can the landscaper turn over this money to me without fear of any legal action against him? Or can he turn this money over to me, so I can have the work done by another landscapeing firm?