Feuding factions in Chukchansi casino debate prepare to talk

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Both sides in the dispute over the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino dispute are getting ready to sit down and talk. A court ordered settlement conference is set for this coming Friday.

Wednesday was the first day laid off Employees of the hotel and casino were allowed in to retrieve their personal belongings. But a sheriff's deputy guarding the place told Action News only a few had come in. And their future of the casino's workers remains uncertain.

"We've been kind of left in the dark with regard to the casino employees," said Monica Davis. "So there's really not too much communication. There's nothing coming over across the street to us, we've heard some members, casino members checks have bounced so that has raised flags with us."

Davis is the vice chairperson of one of the tribe's leadership factions. Their headquarters is in the official tribal offices across the road from the casino. A Federal judge in Fresno last week left the faction inside the casino in charge of paying the tribes bills and monthly payments, to the nearly 1,000 members of the tribe. Davis is uncertain if they are following through.

"The judge just indicated they were supposed to make per capita payments to membership and that hasn't been dispersed so I am not certain if they are even paying the bills," Davis explained.

While Davis' group, headed by Tex McDonald claims to be the rightful leadership of the tribe, their violent effort to oust the group headed by Reggie Lewis from the casino on October 9th made them the bad guys in the eyes of the court. Even though the other faction ousted them from power two months earlier. The judge has ordered both sides to try and resolve their differences.

Vernon King is treasurer for the McDonald council, and told ABC30, "Our side is certainly willing to discuss all issues for our community and the betterment of the tribe. As a whole."

The leader of the other faction Reggie Lewis told Action News they are also ready to talk, but Lewis was concerned the court's intervention seemed to violate tribal sovereignty. Talks between the two sides and other interested parties are set to begin at the Federal Courthouse in Downtown Fresno on Friday. Resolving their differences is the first step in getting the casino reopened and the employees back to work.