For almost three decades, the 81-year-old man has been living in a cabin that sits in the woods. The 81-year-old has spent the last 27 years growing his own food, cutting his own firewood, and looking after his chickens and pets.
His cabin, which is powered by solar panels, is hidden by trees and sits on 73 acres of land that’s been used for timber harvests.
But now the U.S. Air Veteran has found himself in jail on a squatting charge after the 86-year-old owner of the land reported him which led to his recent arrest.
His name is David Lidstone and he has been told that a fire has destroyed his cabin and his future has been thrown into even more uncertainty.
According to Lidstone, the owner of the land previously promised he wouldn’t force him to move but there is now written agreement. However, its current owner Leonard Giles, 86, didn’t even know he was there until 2015.
A judge had first asked Lidstone to vacate his property back in 2017, but he managed to resist all attempts until he was arrested on July 15 and accused of squatting on private property.
A petition has been launched to help him stay on the land which so far has been signed by 3,780 people.
“He is a veteran, a local legend, a homesteader and most importantly human being,” petition organizer Tyler Groves wrote.
“I’d like to petition for Dave to spend his years on the land. He’s always willing to help anyone coming down the river and he always has fresh produce or eggs for the campers.
“He shouldn’t owe anybody anything. The property he’s on has a verbal agreement that he could stay there for the remainder of his life but however there is no proof of it how ever he’s been on the piece of land for over two decades with no harm to anyone.”
Lidstone is being held in jail but will be released if one of three things happen: current landowner Giles knocks down the cabin; Lidstone agrees to leave; or 30 days pass without any sort of action.
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