Article excerpts:

“Charles and Heather Maude, a farming couple from western South Dakota, have been indicted on theft of federal property, with charges brought against them in June 2024. But their case has sparked outrage from agricultural organizations nationwide and has earned the support of a U.S. senator.

The indictment accuses the Maudes of unlawfully taking and converting approximately 50 acres of national grasslands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their own use. The land in question was used for cultivation and grazing, and the property’s value exceeds $1,000. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, under a federal statute that addresses use of government land without permission.

The legal dispute centers around a longstanding boundary between Maude’s property and land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The contested fence line, which the USFS claims represents theft, has existed for generations.

A neighbor, Scott Edoff, told Tri-State Livestock News that the Maudes have been ranching adjacent to the disputed land since 1910, with a grazing allotment in good standing since the U.S. Forest Service’s establishment.”

Link to full article: HERE