Since the 1910s, the Maude family has been ranching the same land in South Dakota that includes leases on adjoining national grasslands separated by a 75-year-old fence.
A dispute arose between the U.S. Forest Service and the current Maude family, Charles and Heather Maude, that led to federal criminal indictments with the federal government claiming they had stolen 50 acres of federal land – 25 for grazing and 25 for cultivation.
For 75 years a fence has separated the government’s land from the Maude’s ranch. In the indictment, however, the U.S. Forest Service alleged the family placed a fence on federal grassland and used 25 acres for grazing, but that’s the same fence that’s been there for 75 years and there has never been a problem between the two, until now.
The Maudes have had an ongoing grazing permit with the Forest Service for 60 years and the fence has never caused a problem and has been recognized at each permit renewal.
To settle the boundary dispute, the Maudes met with the Forest Service district ranger Julie Wheeler on May 1, 2024. They both agreed to a survey of the property to settle the dispute. Ms. Wheeler said the survey might take up to a year, but five days later a survey crew showed up without prior notice or permission and entered their ranch to perform the survey.
Things escalated and on June 20, 2024, a grand jury indicted Charles and Heather for theft of government property. Later, a federal agent who was in tactical gear and armed, served both Charles and Heather at their front door.
Adding insult to injury, the indictment being served on both spouses means they both must hire legal counsel, doubling their attorney’s fees and creating a gag order preventing them from discussing the case with each other.
The charges carry a 10-year prison sentence and/or a $250,000 fine. A trial date has been set for April 29th, for the Maudes.
A GoFundMe has been created to help with their legal costs. They have set a $77,000 goal and have reached 93% raising over $71,000. But, they could use all the help they can get.
This all happened under the Biden administration. Let’s hope the Trump administration, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Department of Justice dismiss this case and give the Maude family the justice they deserve.
