A South Dakota ranching family who faced 10 years in prison over a decades-old fence line dispute has been saved from prosecution after the Trump administration stepped in to dismiss all charges brought during the Biden era.
Key Takeaways
- The Biden administration prosecuted Charles and Heather Maude over a 75-year-old fence line dispute, threatening them with 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines
- The fifth-generation ranching family has held grazing rights on the disputed 25-acre section of Buffalo Gap National Grasslands for nearly 60 years
- Trump administration officials, including USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, announced the dismissal of all charges, calling the case an example of government overreach
- Forest Service agents initially served indictments to the Maudes in tactical gear, sparking criticism about federal law enforcement tactics against rural Americans
- A new USDA website has been launched to address unfair and politically motivated legal actions against farmers and ranchers
Family Facing Prison Over 25 Acres
Charles and Heather Maude, fifth-generation ranchers from South Dakota, found themselves in an unimaginable position when the Biden administration served them with criminal indictments over what many have called a simple property dispute. The couple, who operate a 400-acre cattle ranch and hold a federal grazing permit that has been in good standing for nearly 60 years, faced up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines over allegations of “theft of government property” related to a fence line that had stood for 75 years.
The dispute centered on approximately 25 acres of Buffalo Gap National Grasslands where the Maudes had an informal agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for livestock grazing. What began as a complaint about the fence line escalated dramatically when Forest Service agents appeared at the family’s ranch in full tactical gear to serve criminal indictments, forcing the parents of two young children to consider alternate care arrangements in case both were incarcerated.
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
In a dramatic reversal of fortune, the Trump administration announced the dismissal of all charges against the Maudes during a press conference in Washington, D.C. The announcement, made by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, was attended by the Maude family, Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, and other officials who had rallied to the family’s defense.
“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.
Rollins made it clear that the dismissal was part of President Trump’s directive to “put Americans first” and assured other farmers and ranchers facing similar government actions that they would receive support. Attorney General Pam Bondi further emphasized that the Department of Justice would redirect resources toward prosecuting criminals rather than pursuing what many viewed as politically motivated cases against rural Americans.
A Legacy Family Farm Under Threat
The Maudes’ ranch has been in their family since 1910, and they have held their U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands grazing allotment in good standing since the inception of the Forest Service. Heather Maude, visibly emotional at the press conference, expressed gratitude for the administration’s intervention and shared her family’s deep roots in both agriculture and military service.
“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.”
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council had supported the Maudes throughout their ordeal, highlighting the case as an example of the “imbalance of power between family ranchers and a formidable federal government.” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem had also attempted to intervene on the family’s behalf but was reportedly ignored by the Biden Administration.
Criticism of Federal Overreach
Representative Harriet Hageman, who was instrumental in getting the case dropped, didn’t mince words when criticizing the government’s approach to the dispute. She emphasized that the case highlighted serious concerns about the power of unelected bureaucrats and the misuse of federal law enforcement against American citizens.
“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,” Hageman stated.
As part of the administration’s response to the case, a new USDA website was announced to address unfair and politically motivated legal actions against farmers and ranchers. Hageman and other officials pledged to remain vigilant against similar cases in the West. For the Maude family, the resolution means they can continue their ranching tradition without the looming threat of imprisonment, allowing their children to grow up with both parents present in their rural South Dakota home.
