Six months ago a raid on Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in California ?led to its closure and ?charges against 15 individuals including tribal police. Plea bargain offers were announced on April 30, 2015, with the expected acceptance on Friday May 1, 2015. According to news media ?all except?two of the criminal cases were resolved on Friday. Four of the men responsible for the raid on the casino plead guilty to misdemeanor criminal trespass. This included John Oliveira who led the raid. Seven of the defendants were not present in court, but their attorneys stated they are willing to accept the deal. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges against some of the 15 people involved as long as they stay “away from the casino for six to 12 months.”
Tex McDonald is one of the men who took a plea deal. McDonald already has two strikes against him. If he did not accept the deal, he could have spent quite a bit of time in prison under California’s 3 strikes law. McDonald was the former chairman of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians.
Charges were dropped against Miguel Ramos. The cases involving John Cayanne and Vernon King will be moving forward. King, along with McDonald have been in jail since the night of the raid. King was released on Friday by a judge, but his case will be heard in court. He did not take a plea deal. McDonald will be released from prison in July.