Charles and Heather Maude with their children. The government accused the couple of stealing land that had been grazed for decades. Courtesy of Elsie Fortune Photography
Community, industry had rallied to support Charles and Heather Maude in land dispute with feds
The federal government is dropping its pursuit of a West River ranching husband and wife who were indicted last summer on charges they stole federal land.
Federal Judge Camela Theeler signed an order dismissing the indictments against Charles and Heather Maude on Monday. It also exonerated the couple from the conditions of their release from custody while they were awaiting trial. Those conditions had included not being able to communicate with each other about the case.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture accused them of appropriating about 50 acres of federal land by fencing it off. The Maudes ranch on land that has been in the family for more than a hundred years. They operate along the Cheyenne River near the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.
