Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman is among Republicans in Congress calling out federal officials for an armed, intimidating response to a South Dakota ranch family’s home over a 75-year-old property line dispute.
A scathing letter obtained by Cowboy State Daily early Wednesday was sent to Alison Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, from Hageman and other congressional representatives. It calls for Ramsdell to provide a briefing about the case of Charles and Heather Maude of Caputa, South Dakota.
According to reports, U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Travis Lunders showed up unannounced at the Maudes’ home on June 24, 2024, armed and in tactical gear, to serve the couple with federal indictments. The indictments were for the alleged theft of government property.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.
When contacted by Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday, Heather Maude, who is a Wyoming native, declined to comment because the case stemming from those indictments is still ongoing.
Part Of DOJ Oversight
The letter mentions the Maudes’ case specifically as an example of an alleged broader pattern of “misuse” of federal law enforcement against American citizens during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
“We are conducting oversight of the Department of Justice (DOJ), including the misuse of federal law-enforcement resources against American citizens,” the letter states.
“Last year, the DOJ and United States Forest Service (USFS) seemingly weaponized law-enforcement resources to intimidate Charles and Heather Maude — a ranching family with a longstanding presence in western South Dakota — who are part of a property line and land use permit dispute with USFS,” the letter continues. “The Maudes are now facing criminal indictments from your office related to the ongoing property dispute.
“Following the indictment, leading cattle industries condemned USFS’s and DOJ’s handling of the land dispute. As a part of our continuing oversight, we request a briefing about your office’s handling of this matter. We are concerned about the aftermath of the Biden-Harris Administration’s misuse of federal law-enforcement resources against American citizens.”
In addition to Hageman, the letter is signed by Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas.
Old Fence Line Dispute Sparked Everything
The Maude family ranch dates back to the 1910s, and the family also has leases on the adjoining national grasslands.
The disputed boundary is along a fence line that’s about 75 years old, and at one point the Maudes attached a “no hunting” sign on one of the posts.
After a hunter complained about the sign, the Forest Service told the family to remove it March 29, 2024, and they did, according to reports.
On May 1, 2024, the Maudes met with Julie Wheeler, the Forest Service district ranger for the Fall River Ranger District/Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
It was decided during that meeting that a land survey was in order to settle the property boundaries once and for all.
Wheeler told the couple that might take up to year. Then five days later, Lunders showed up with a survey crew — without prior notice or permission to enter their ranch property.
And then June 24, 87 days after the Maudes were told to take down the “no trespassing sign,” Lunders showed up on their front steps in tactical gear, reportedly without giving prior notice.
Hageman and the others who signed the letter call the response blatant abuse of government power and unnecessary intimidation of U.S. citizens.
Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com
There’s a dispute over exactly where the boundary line is between land owned by the South Dakota ranchers Heather and Charles Maude and national grassland controlled by the Forest Service. The couple was served federal indictments alleging theft of government property. (Courtesy Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post) 
There’s a boundary dispute in this South Dakota field, over where land owned by ranchers Heather and Charles Maude ends, and Forest Service property begins. The Maudes are facing federal indictments alleging theft of government property. (Courtesy Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post) 
Heather and Charles Maude, owners of Maude Hog & Cattle near Caputa, South Dakota, were each served with separate federal indictments over a fence line dispute with the U.S. Forest Service. (Courtesy Maude Hog & Cattle)
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
