‘Nobody should go through this,’ say couple facing $500k fine in 70-year-old fence dispute

RANCHERS are outraged after a ranching couple was indicted by the federal government for land violations and now face combined fines of $500,000 or 20 years in prison.

Charles and Heather Maude, two 39-year-old South Dakota ranchers, were blindsided when federal agents allegedly arrived dressed in full tactical gear and accused them of stealing government land.

Charles and Heather Maude, two South Dakota ranchers, are facing a massive prison sentence after being accused of stealing federal landCredit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

The couple works on a ranch that has been in the Maude family since 1913Credit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

The duo have two 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥renCredit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

The ranchers were served with separate indictments for alleged theft of government property surrounding a fence that has been on the couple’s property for 75 years, according to the Cowboy State Daily.

“It’s is stressful, financially and mentally,” Charles told the outlet.

“It’s something nobody should have to go through.”

The individual charges hold maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

Since the two were served individually, they legally aren’t allowed to discuss the case with each other.

The indictments were brought up by the Forest Service agency after murky boundaries were revealed between the Maude’s fence and the national grasslands of the Forest Service.

The Maude family has been ranching on the South Dakota land since the 1910s and put the fence on their property line nearly 75 years ago.

The boundary issues were spotlighted after the ranchers put up a “No Hunting” sign on their fence.

The sign caused a hunter to complain, flagging the property issue to the Forest Service.

Charles and Heather removed the sign, as instructed, and decided to finally settle the long-running issue with the agency on May 1 when they met with Forest Service agent Julie Wheeler.

Wheeler allegedly told the couple it would take months, if not a year, for the property to be surveyed, but five days later, Forest Service agent Travis Lunders showed up to check out the property.

Lunders surprise visit came without any prior notice, according to Rachel Gabel, assistant editor of The Fence Post.

A little over a month later, on June 24, Lunders served the couple their indictments.

MAJOR BACKLASH

Gabel said for the case “to go from zero to 120 mph in 87 days” infuriated fellow ranchers and heightened ongoing tension between ranchers and the Forest Service.

“The Forest Service has long said they want to be good neighbors, and taking shots at easy targets isn’t being good neighbors,” Gabel said, The Daily Mail reported.

Even Congress’ Natural Resources Committee after Senator Mike Rounds defended the couple in a letter to the US Secretary of Agriculture.

The Forest Service claimed the Maude ranch has a fence that leads on to government landCredit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

The fence has been on the land since the 1950s, and has never been disputed beforeCredit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

The couple were both served individually so they can’t even talk to each other about the caseCredit: Instagram/maudehogcattle

“This action represents a direct conflict to an agreed-upon plan, wherein the landowners were working cooperatively with the USFS to resolve the issue,” he wrote.

Rounds said the Maude’s had a lease agreement in place with the USFS for about 60 years, and the fence was never an issue.

“The criminal indictment appears unnecessary and conflicts with USDA’s stated good neighbor practices with regard to land management practices,” Rounds continued.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council president Mark Roeber urged the Forest Service to drop the charges.

“This case is a prime example of what can happen when federal agencies view ranchers as enemies, rather than partners,” Roeber said.

“I urge the U.S. Forest Service to rethink their plan to slap handcuffs on these hardworking ranchers and instead pursue an alternative resolution to this issue.”

A GoFundMe has been started for the couple to “help preserve their legacy.”

“Please consider donating to this hard-working family as they face the unknown. Please help them continue to farm, ranch, and grow their family in western South Dakota as they have for 5 generations,” the fundraising description pleads.

So far, $25,258 of the $77,000 goal has been raised.