A South Dakota ranching family facing 10 years in prison over a fence line dispute has been freed from prosecution as the Trump administration dismantles what officials call politically motivated charges from the Biden era.
Quick Takes
- Charles and Heather Maude were facing prison sentences and $250,000 fines over a 75-year-old fence line on their family ranch
- The criminal charges stemmed from a dispute over 25 acres where the family had grazed cattle for generations with Forest Service permission
- Trump administration officials, including USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Attorney General Pam Bondi, officially dropped all charges
- Rep. Harriet Hageman criticized federal agents who served indictments “with guns a-blazing” against a family with young children
- A new USDA website has been announced to help other farmers facing similar “politically motivated” legal actions
Fifth-Generation Ranch Family Freed from Legal Nightmare
The Biden administration’s criminal prosecution of South Dakota ranchers Charles and Heather Maude has been terminated by the Trump administration, ending a legal nightmare that threatened to send the parents of two young children to prison for a decade. The case, which centered around a dispute over 25 acres of grassland and a fence line that had stood for 75 years, was officially dismissed at a Washington, D.C. press conference attended by the Maude family, Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Maudes, who operate a 400-acre cattle ranch that has been in their family for five generations since 1910, have held a grazing permit with the U.S. Forest Service for nearly 60 years. The dispute began when a complaint about their fence triggered a land survey, but instead of addressing it as a civil matter, federal prosecutors brought criminal charges of “theft of government property” that carried maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 in fines.
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
Federal Agents “With Guns A-Blazing”
According to reports, a Forest Service agent in tactical gear served the indictments to the Maudes, shocking the family. Rep. Harriet Hageman, who was instrumental in bringing the case to the attention of the new administration, condemned the approach. The Wyoming Republican has been outspoken about federal overreach and the misuse of law enforcement resources 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,” said Hageman.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem reportedly attempted to intervene on behalf of the Maudes but was ignored by the Biden Administration. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council had also supported the family in seeking a resolution, highlighting concerns about the federal government’s approach to disputes with landowners who use public grazing lands.
Trump Administration Ends “Weaponized” Prosecution
In announcing the end of the case, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the stark difference in priorities between the current and previous administrations. She noted the irony of prosecuting law-abiding ranchers while others worked to release criminals and illegal immigrants. Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced this message, stating that the Department of Justice would redirect resources toward prosecuting actual criminals rather than pursuing what she characterized as weaponized prosecutions.
“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,” stated Rollins.
The resolution came swiftly after the Trump administration took office, with officials pledging to remain vigilant against similar cases targeting rural landowners and producers. Rollins announced a new USDA website designed to help farmers and ranchers who believe they are facing unfair or politically motivated legal actions from the federal government.
Family Expresses Relief and Gratitude
Speaking at the press conference, Heather Maude expressed profound gratitude to the administration officials who intervened to end the prosecution. The family had been living under the shadow of potential imprisonment, with the devastating prospect of being separated from their children. The Maudes highlighted their deep roots in American agriculture, emphasizing their commitment to working the land responsibly.
“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.”
Industry representatives and land use advocates have pointed to the Maude case as emblematic of deeper problems in the relationship between federal agencies and the Americans who work with them. Kaitlynn Glover of the Public Lands Council noted that the case had “a chilling effect on ranchers’ trust in federal land management agencies” and demonstrated the “imbalance of power between family ranchers and a formidable federal government.”
