A Madera County Superior Court judge will hear Friday from lawyers seeking to dismiss criminal charges against 15 defendants involved in the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino office raid on Oct. 9 that sparked the casino’s evacuation and closure.
Before hearing the criminal case, Judge Dale Blea first has to decide whether the Madera County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office had jurisdiction to make the arrests and file charges. Another issue is whether either of two tribal factions was in control — and had the authority to employ police officers — because the federal government had not recognized a tribal government in October.
Both prosecution and defense lawyers say that since neither side was the recognized leadership, both lacked authority. The lawyers are using that lack of recognized authority as key parts of their arguments.
The 15 defendants, including tribal council members Tex McDonald and Vernon King, police officers and members of their security team, were later charged with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and other crimes. Nobody from the security team employed by the Reggie Lewis-Nancy Ayala tribal faction was charged.
The Oct. 9 raid was planned to recover audit information requested by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which had threatened to close the casino if two years of audits were not filed by Oct. 27. The Lewis-Ayala group had kept the McDonald faction away from the information since late August.
Defense lawyers say the McDonald tribal faction’s force was acting in “good faith” when its members detained and handcuffed members of the opposing security force. About an hour later, those arrested were released to then-Madera County Sheriff John Anderson. Those actions on Oct. 9 are seen in a video that’s part of evidence set to be released at Friday’s hearing.
Just reported by the Fresno Bee. The Judge denied the criminals were not a legitimate police force and will be held accountable!!! Thank God!! Its about time these scum of the earth will be thrown on prison where they belong. Especially T Mcdonald. It will be his 3rd. strike and time to get ready for his new home. Butt banging prison!! Hahahaha!
ReplyDeleteThat A hole ruined a lot of peoples lives and possibly destroyed them. What goes around comes around huh Twex and Vernon!!!
I bet Tex thought by now he was going to have a nice burger and fries or steak and potatoes for dinner? Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteAnd Vern though he was going to have collard greens and fried chicken! Hee hee hee! NOT! DENIED!
Instead they gonna have the cream of of sum young guy soup! Hee hee! IT sucks to be you right now!!!
Free tex!!! Time for reggie and his crew to go to jail for stilling millions .the last two comments must be his family. Just close the casino and make it a mental hospital. Lol
ReplyDeleteAcorn soup tonight! Sure the Reggie group is on the top floor of the casino living it up high on the hog tonight eating some fine food & good drink while every one on the REZ is struggling to make a living & feed their family's may as well push back the elections they have plenty of money to live on
ReplyDeleteFree tex? stilling? Where did you learn to spell? Stupid idiot. Before you make a comment, please make sure you know how to capitalize and how to spell. This is the reason why most of us so called Chukchansi Indians have this problem in the first place. People see us as stupid dumb Indians who can't spell or use the correct meaning of a word in the English dictionary. A few classes here, a few private lessons or life coaches is not the answer.
ReplyDeleteTry to earn degrees in a specific field and know what you are talking about instead of smoking a joint and taking a few community college classes and think you know ??? Come on?? You can do better? Lay down the juice and leave the drugs alone. This is no way to go through life!
Chance, I know you wrote one of these comments, you have always been impressed with the 2013 council especially since they call You & Reggie out for stealing to bad the membership didn't & don't see the light but a guess, receiving $338 a month instead of $440 plus was better than nothing, 2013 was paying schooling, elder benefits and healthcare but I guess the membership didn't really care. it was membership love of Reggie & Chance out weighted that. 2013 those payment up. kept those thing up, well membership you got what you asked for, oh yet $22.5 million that could of rightfully went to membership is now in the hands of Chance your treasurer. You let Reggie, Chance, Nancy, Dora, Jennifer, Morris, and Nokomis have it so they can live higher on the hog. SO WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTION?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the comment above all I can say Indians, are like third world countries. Government don't care. Greed will take over. They want them to destroy themselves so they can retake the crappy land they gave. Wake up before its too late.
ReplyDeletecomment made on April 10, 2015 at 4:21 PM sounds like you have been there
ReplyDeletecomment made at April 10, 2015 at 2:51 PM you ruined it for you when you closed your eyes to Reggie & STC going in with their guns
comment made April 10, 2015 at 8:39 PM is this comment you can use your degree for
comment made on April 10, 2015 at 4:21 PM sounds like you have been there
ReplyDeletecomment made at April 10, 2015 at 2:51 PM you ruined it for you when you closed your eyes to Reggie & STC going in with their guns
comment made April 10, 2015 at 8:39 PM is this the best comment you can use your degree for
You Indians are dumb! You fight each other and love Reggie after he stole millions. I thought Reggie was voted out. The only people that are NOT getting screwed is Reggie and those that took over, plus their family members. Reggie and his family gets millions, a nice house and nice vacation and all you guys got is a measly $300 or $400. You guys are so stupid to allow Reggie and his family continue to steal from you. I saw a video of Nancy talking about Reggie, but I guess she's a thief too. Karma is a bitch.
ReplyDeleteThen....3 months. What's the real hold up? Timely is not a real answer to my question. I could care less about opening the casino for Dustin Graham to carry out another bag of money for Nancy Ayala to take another pallet of money, for Chance to spend the Chuk inc money like a drunk rock star, for Reggie to hire thugs to send to members homes. I'm sure there are members who can turn a blind eye to this kind of corruption.... but I'm different, and that's not a bad thing, it's not negativity.
ReplyDelete