Government Overreach Threatens to Ruin a Family’s Life; Why Aren’t Conservatives Outraged?

In Pennington County, South Dakota, a ranching family is being prosecuted by the federal government. Charles and Heather Maude are both placed under a gag order and are indicted for ‘theft of government property’. If found guilty, they could each face up to 10 years imprisonment and fines upwards of $250,000.

Did this ranching couple storm Fort Knox, or steal government property from a nearby military base? What kind of action could cause a federal judge to hand down a gag order on a husband and wife with no criminal history? 

From their GoFundMe page, the indictment states that “Charles Maude and Heather Maude did knowingly steal, purloin, and convert to their own use of National Grasslands managed by the United States Department of Agriculture…approximately 25 aces of National Grasslands for cultivation and approximately 25 acres of National Grasslands for grazing cattle.”

This is an incredible claim, on several fronts. First, it should be known that in this part of the country 25 acres is barely sufficient in a good year, to support a single cow-calf pair. The property boundary in dispute is marked by a fence built over 70 years ago.

How can a family be indicted for theft that, if real, occurred before they were born? How can those combined 50 acres, which if truly the government’s, be in use by a single family for 70 plus years and now be of such concern as to warrant the destruction of upstanding citizen’s lives?

On March 29, 2024, an unnamed hunter complained to the US Forest Service about a “No Trespassing” sign on their fenceline, blocking his access to Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. The US Forest Service has declined to identify this hunter.  

The same day, a US Forest Service agent, Travis Lunders, arrived at the Maude residence to discuss the issue with Charles and Heather. The Maudes took down the “No Trespassing” sign the following day.

A meeting was set up for May 1st and attended by the Maudes and both Launders and USFS District Ranger Julie Wheeler to further discuss the property line in question. 

June 24, 2024, the Maudes were handed an indictment by Travis Launders, who arrived at their property in ‘full tactical gear’. How in three months time could peaceful and civil discussion escalate to criminal charges? 

The US Forest service has abused its power and is waging war against a family that if convicted of these ‘crimes’ would only be the first of many ranchers who could have their lives ruined over decades old property lines. Heather and Charles Maude are working the same land that has been in their family for five generations. 

Imagine if your property was adjacent to US federal lands and had been since the early 20th century. Would you have the resources to fight the government if they one day declared that you had ‘stolen’ land? Could you expect your community to rally behind you and support you when your voice has been stolen by a gag order?

We should be horrified at this blatant abuse of power and the astonishing lack of transparency or evidence the US Forest Service has provided. This is the kind of case that shows what happens when the government is left to run amuck, and is not answerable to its constituents. 

You would think this is the perfect kind of case for our conservative politicians to champion. And that brings us to another question, where is our Governor, Republican Larry Rhoden? Where is former South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem? Both are self-acclaimed ranchers and yet have been utterly silent on this case.

Maude family members, local ranchers, and South Dakota legislators all have made tremendous effort to get national attention on the Maude Family’s struggle and yet the politicians who should have the most interest in it, have done nothing. 

We are seeing government offices emptied overnight by DOGE. The Trump Administration has declared all out war against wasteful spending. How much money has been spent to indict a married couple over a 70 year old fence line? 

Charles and Heather will go to trial in July. We have about one month to make sure their story is heard. Please share this and other articles on the Maudes. Reach out to your local representatives, especially if you are in South Dakota. When the government does not offer evidence for their accusations, citizens must stand up and demand it. 

Donations can be made via GoFundMe “Help the Maude Family Preserve Their Legacy” or checks can be addressed to “The Maude Legal Fund” and mailed to First Interstate Bank at 404 S. Ave A, New Underwood, SD 57761