NACDL - United States v. Maude and Maude

United States v. Maude and Maude

Husband and wife cattle farmers were indicted in 2024 for grazing their cattle on federal land and for erecting fencing on their property that blocked access to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. In April 2025, the USDA claimed that the indictment was "politically motivated" and the Department of Justice dismissed the indictment.

Case Details

Case No.: 5:24-cr-50081
Case Filed: June 20, 2024
Jurisdiction: D.S.D.
Charges: 18 U.S.C. 641, 18 U.S.C. 2
Case Outcome: Dismissal without Prejudice
Judge: Theeler, Camela C.
Defendant(s): Maude, Charles; Maude, Heather
Defense Attorney: Eisenbraun, Paul

Key Topics in the Case

Pretrial Dismissal

Case Analysis

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Case Files

ECF: 1 - 06/20/24 - Government - Indictment

Redacted Indictment

a-gov-uscourts-sdd-80656-1-0.pdf
ECF: 48 - 04/28/25 - Government - Motion to Dismiss

Motion to Dismiss Indictment

b-gov-uscourts-sdd-80656-48-0.pdf
ECF: 49 - 04/28/25 - Court - Order on Motion to Dismiss Indictment

Order Dismissing Indictment

c-gov-uscourts-sdd-80658-49-0.pdf

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Resources

Government Statement

Journal/Report

A Department Untethered: The Erosion of DOJ Settlement Norms and Implications for Environmental Law

News of Interest

Charges Dropped in Maude Case, but Questions Remain About Federal Overreach
" Charges Dropped in Maude Case, but Questions Remain About Federal Overreach ," Callie Hanson Wyoming Farm Bureau© Federation, May 28, 2025

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