A South Dakota ranch family facing 10 years in prison over a fence line dispute finally received relief when the Trump administration dropped all charges, ending a nightmarish ordeal that threatened to separate parents from their young children.
Top Takeaways
- Charles and Heather Maude, fifth-generation South Dakota ranchers, were facing federal prosecution, 10 years in prison, and $250,000 in fines over a 75-year-old fence line dispute with the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.
- The Biden administration pursued criminal “theft of federal property” charges against the family despite their long-standing grazing permit and history of good standing with the Forest Service since 1910.
- The Trump administration officially dropped all charges against the Maudes at a Washington D.C. press conference, with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins calling the prosecution a case of government overreach.
- The family was told to make alternative childcare arrangements for their young children due to potential imprisonment, highlighting the personal toll of the legal battle.
- A new USDA website has been announced to address unfair and politically motivated legal actions against farmers and ranchers facing similar government overreach.
Biden-Era Prosecution Over Legacy Fence Line
The Maude family’s ordeal began with what should have been a minor civil dispute over a 25-acre section of grazing land. The family has managed their 400-acre cattle ranch in South Dakota for five generations and held a federal grazing permit with the U.S. Forest Service for nearly 60 years. Despite this long-standing relationship, the situation escalated dramatically when a Forest Service agent arrived at their home in tactical gear to serve federal indictments for “theft of federal property.”
The charges carried severe potential penalties: 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000. The impact on the family was immediate and devastating. The Maudes were advised to make arrangements for their young children’s care in case both parents were imprisoned. This ranch family, with deep roots in agriculture, suddenly found themselves at the center of what many officials later characterized as government overreach.
Secretary Rollins: "This is a fifth-generation South Dakota ranching family named the Maudes. Under the This family was indicted, prosecuted, over threatened with jail time over a fencing dispute by the Biden DOJ. This morning, all criminal charges were dropped." pic.twitter.com/1ARk3guVM0
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 30, 2025
Trump Administration Intervenes
Relief finally came when the Trump administration officially dismissed all charges against the Maudes. At a Washington D.C. press conference attended by the family, Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, and other officials, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the end of the case. The dismissal represented a complete reversal from the previous administration’s approach to the land dispute.
“This family, targeted over what should have been a minor civil dispute over grazing rights on 25 acres of public land, was prosecuted — credibly threatened with jail sentences so extreme that they were told to find alternatives to raise their young children,” said Rollins.
Rep. Hageman, who was instrumental in bringing attention to the case, criticized the heavy-handed approach taken by the previous administration. “That is not the way our government should be treating our citizens. You don’t come in with guns a-blazing with two young people with two young children and say we’re going to give you 10 years in prison,” she stated. The resolution was framed as a return to a government that works for the people.
Family’s Ordeal Highlights Broader Issues
The Maudes’ case resonated with many Americans concerned about federal overreach. The family had purchased their farm in 1910 and maintained a grazing allotment in good standing with the U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands since its inception. When a dispute arose over a fence line that had been in place for approximately 75 years, the Maudes sought resolution through normal channels but instead faced criminal prosecution.
“When this unnecessary grievance came to our family, we knew that we were innocent of any wrongdoing,” Heather Maude said with emotion. “We sought to find a resolution, and that was not forthcoming from the other side.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem had attempted to intervene on behalf of the family but was reportedly ignored by the Biden Administration. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council also supported the Maudes, recognizing the potential chilling effect such prosecutions could have on ranchers throughout the West who rely on grazing allotments on federal lands.
Looking Forward: Support for American Farmers and Ranchers
As part of the resolution, Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized a shift in priorities at the Department of Justice. “The prior administration’s misguided agenda must be reversed in order to make America safe again. This Department of Justice will spend our resources and efforts on prosecuting criminals, getting drugs off the streets, and identifying and dismantling the weaponization,” Bondi stated in a news release.
A new USDA website has been announced to address similar cases of unfair and politically motivated legal actions against farmers and ranchers. Rollins assured continued support for other agricultural producers facing comparable government actions, signaling a broader commitment to protecting American farming families from excessive federal enforcement.
