A group that fenced off about 1,400 acres of U.S. Forest Service land outside Mancos after claiming ownership over it is now being sued by the federal government.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court of Colorado, U.S. attorneys called the 鈥渦nlawful,鈥� citing the federal government鈥檚 title to the land that it manages through the Forest Service for recreation purposes and cattle grazing.
The U.S. is filing the lawsuit, attorneys wrote, to prevent further harm to the land and public and 鈥渆nsure continuing free and lawful access to public property.鈥�
The lawsuit names Patrick Leroy Pipkin and Bryan Hammon, two members of the Free Land Holder group, as well as anyone else who helped build the fence.
Pipkin said his group is eager to meet with representatives of the U.S. government to discuss his group鈥檚 claim to the land. His group agreed with the Montezuma County sheriff in October to not erect any more fencing until the claims are settled, he said.
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