Ep 179: Overreach or Rogue Agent? The Maude Family Story

Today it’s the story of Charles and Heather Maude, a young ranch family in Southwest South Dakota that have found themselves indicted for theft of federal property over 25 acres of National Grass Lands that had been a part of this 5th generation ranch family since 1910.  Rachel Gabel, spokesperson for the Maude family, is my guest as we unpack this story.  In 55 days from a normal and civil meeting on May 1st with a Forest Service District Ranger and a US Forest Service special agent over decades old boundary discrepancies, the Maudes, out of the blue, found themselves summoned to appear in US District Court.  They were separately indicted with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000 each.  So, what happened here?  What are the details behind this story?  Why has there been little to no information made available by the Forest Service as to why they escalated this issue quickly without trying to find resolution? Why is it alarming to all of us in production agriculture?  Is this reflective of the US Forest Service or a rogue district office and agent in South Dakota?  

Financial Contributions:

• Maude Family Go Fund Me Page
• Maude Legal Fund c/o First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 98, New Underwood, S.D. 57761

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