Chukchansi showdown: Setback for McDonald faction

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The videotaped violence at Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino will keep one faction of tribal leaders, police and employees in jail for the time being.

"They're still a danger now," said Casey Cotroneo, who supports Reggie Lewis and walked out of court with the Lewis faction Wednesday. "Those guys came in there. There's a tribal security. We're in a courthouse and they're still trying to call everybody out."

The casino office takeover attempt Oct. 9 accelerated the casino's closure -- and eventually led to criminal charges against fifteen people.

McDonald is the would-be tribal leader who took part in the takeover at the casino offices. Wednesday, his police chief was arrested and a judge left McDonald's bail so high, he won't be able to get out of jail. McDonald and his crew will wear these jail jumpsuits a while longer.

And now, their tribal police chief, John Oliveira, will trade his suit for a jumpsuit as he joins the others in jail on charges of kidnapping, battery and false imprisonment. But if they're the tribe's true leadership, they say the takeover caught on video acquired by Action News was perfectly legal.

"The tribal council hired a police force that obeyed the law and none of them should be getting prosecuted now," said defense attorney Jeff Reich, who represents Vernon King of the McDonald faction. "It is a political case and we consider it to be a political prosecution."

The violent office raid targeted Lewis and his supporters, the tribe's former leadership who took over casino operations two months earlier. Lewis faced a firing line of criticism right in his face as he left the courthouse.

"Where's our money? Where's our money?" chanted McDonald's supporters.

Lewis' supporters say they feel the threat of violence every time they meet the McDonald faction in court.

"They're sitting in the hallway as you hear them in the background," said Cotroneo. "All we want to do here is hear what the judge has to say, but even in the courtroom I have to be fearful for my life and the life of my crew."

The judge refused to reduce the $2.45 million bail for McDonald and one of his considerations was the potential for new violence if he and his police force got out of jail. But not only does McDonald's faction believe they're the rightful leadership of the Chukchansi tribe, they claim Madera County district attorney Michael Keitz met with Oliveira before the operation and Keitz signed off on the plans.

"He knew what they were doing," said McDonald supporter Jeanette Sample. "He just told them 'Good luck.' So he gave approval."

Keitz tells Action News he can't legally discuss details of the case, but he did say the McDonald faction is mischaracterizing the meeting he had with them before the takeover attempt.