The Fresno Bee has the story
Several Chukchansi tribal police officers are expected to plead guilty Friday to a trespassing charge, but some may decide to have their cases go to a preliminary hearing.
One of those men, John Cayanne, said the officers who had 29 felony counts filed against them in October would not have their arrest records expunged if they take a plea agreement. Their arrest record will show those counts even if they are converted into one misdemeanor trespassing stemming from the Oct. 9 Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino office raid.
“Some of us have spent $75,000 in bail and legal fees, were taken away from our families and are losingour homes,” he said. “That should be enough when all they are going to get us on is a trespassing charge that is going away and doesn’t have a fine at all.”
Cayanne, a police officer for the Tex McDonald faction, said he and his fellow tribal police officers rely on their reputations and security clearances to get work.
“That arrest will be on our record even if we are found not guilty,” he said.
One other defendant, former McDonald tribal council treasurer Vernon King, also wants a preliminary
hearing. He isn’t scheduled to return to court until May 29, when a preliminary hearing will be scheduled.
The casino office raid took three minutes, Cayanne said. Several security guards for the Reggie Lewis Nancy Ayala faction opposed them and were detained in handcuffs.
The Lewis Ayala faction took control of the casino at the end of August. The McDonald officers went into the gaming office to retrieve audit information for two years of financial reports that were overdue to the federal government.
Two weeks ago, four men pleaded guilty to trespassing and a fifth man had charges dismissed. McDonald pleaded guilty to one count of false imprisonment. He is expected to be released after he is sentenced in July.
Mark Coleman, lawyer for the eight tribal police officers, said he had received most of the signed plea
agreements by Thursday, but he suggested that some of the men could still change their minds.
Madera County District Attorney David Linn said he was hopeful that all the men, including King, would seriously consider his offer. Linn said King’s plea deal involved a false imprisonment count, similar to one McDonald pleaded guilty to two weeks ago. But, Linn said, his office may be willing to reduce the count to trespassing.
Linn said he heard Thursday that three tribal police officers, plus King, were going to fight the charges.
He said expunging arrest records is not within the district attorney’s jurisdiction
4 comments:
Good, they should fight it out in court then sue the county for false imprisonment. Why is Reggie and his group in charge and running free after stealing $50 million and taking over the casino after they were voted out of office? Follow the money to see who Reggie paid off. If Vernon King was put in jail, why wasn't the lady from the council that was with Vernon King arrested too? This is bullshit and everybody knows it. Reggie is still robbing the natives blind. The corruption by Reggie and his people have gone on too long. I hope they close that casino forever.
Was just thinking about the last meeting I attended 2010 unification council said membership isn't getting anything if they are in control. Instead of the one million a not they only want to give the Tribe $250,000 monthly? They said the Bondholders are in control? They don't have the backing of the County, the State or NIGC...the Casino isn't opening anytime soon. Why open it? The 2010 unification council will get the big bucks and you guys are all their little people. Nobody will get percap. These are the same councils they
blew all the money previously on nothing but their
frivolous spending. They will continue to do so.
ALREADY started hiring the family my and friends to fill in for all th jobs for advertised
Was just thinking about the last meeting I attended 2010 unification council said membership isn't getting anything if they are in control. Instead of the one million a month they only want to give the Tribe $250,000 monthly? They said the Bondholders are in control? They don't have the backing of the County, the State or NIGC...the Casino isn't opening anytime soon. Why open it? The 2010 unification council will get the big bucks and you guys are all their little people. Nobody will get percap. These are the same councils they blew all the money previously on nothing but their frivolous spending. They will continue to do so.
ALREADY have started to hire family and friends for posted jobs
A real council would have taken no pay or a reduced pay
ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
You Indians are dumb for allowing this to happen. Those that were against Tex and Vernon deserve this. Now you get nothing. Learn to fight like your ancestors. Reggie's fat ass living like a King and the natives are living like people in a third-world country. God will have the final word and it will not be good for Reggie and those that continue to take advantage of the natives.
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