California | Openings & Closings

More pleas in incident at Chukchansi Tribe's shuttered casino

Monday, May 18, 2015

The Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, California. Photo from Facebook

Five more people pleaded guilty in connection with an incident at the casino owned by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians in California.

The defendants were police officers hired by one faction of the tribe. They were involved in a scuffle at the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino that led to its closure last October.

Tex McDonald, the chairman of the faction, already pleaded guilty to one count of felony false imprisonment for his role in the incident. He will be sentenced to 16 months but since he's been in jail since November it's expected he will be released in July, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Vernon King was serving as treasurer of the tribal faction that sent police officers to the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino last October. Photo from Facebook

Vernon King, the treasurer of the faction, was also charged in connection with the scuffle. He has not accepted a plea agreement and it looks like he is headed to trial.

“They’re done,” Madera County District Attorney David Linn told the Bee of the four remaining defendants out of 15 who were charged. “No more deal.”

The leaders of two other factions on the reservation have joined forces and are trying to get the casino reopened. The leader of yet another faction has not supported the legitimacy of the co-council.

Get the Story:
Five Chukchansi tribal police agree to plea deals in casino takeover case (The Fresno Bee 5/16)