The Trump Administration is dropping charges over a land dispute against a West River South Dakota family.
Last year, Charles and Heather Maude were alerted by the US Forest Service that fencing on their property blocked access to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.
The Service surveyed the property lines at the consent of the Maude family. Then last summer, the Maudes were indicted for theft of government property following the survey.
Court filings said the Maudes stole 50 acres of federal land. The Maude family said their family has been working that land dating back to the 1900s.
The family faced 10 years in federal prison time and a $250,000 fine.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins called the charges a “politically motivated witch hunt” by the Biden Administration.
Gov. Larry Rhoden said he was working closely with Rollins behind the scenes.
