MADERA COUNTY – Former Chukchansi Tribal Chairman Tex McDonald appeared today in Madera Superior Court for sentencing.
On May 1, McDonald agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge of false imprisonment, for his part in the armed takeover attempt of the Chukchansi Gold Casino in Coarsegold, in early October 2014.
The judge sentenced him to 485 days, but he will be released on Friday because of credit for time served.
McDonald has been behind bars on a $2.45 million bond since turning himself in in early November 2014, after charges were filed and arrest warrants issued for him and 14 others on Oct. 31, 2014.
The Chukchansi casino in Coarsegold was forced to close after the Oct. 9 takeover attempt, promptly putting over 1,200 people out of work.
District Attorney David Linn says he is satisfied with the outcome of the case.
“Everything went according to plan, and now it’s up to Mr. McDonald to live up to the terms of his plea agreement and not get into any trouble,” said Linn. “Hopefully he will be re-engaged in the negotiations with the Chukchansi factions, and we hope they will be moving towards restoring the building and can reopen in the not too distant future, and get all those people their jobs back.”
Vernon King, along with three others, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and will have a preliminary hearing some time in early November.
