MADERA – The only defendant to reject a plea deal from the District Attorney’s office in connection with the October 2014 attempted take-over at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, is headed toward trial.
District Attorney David Linn announced yesterday, following a hearing in Department 22 of the Madera Superior Court, that his office will be proceeding to a preliminary hearing against defendant Vernon King.
Mr. King is the last of the Chukchansi Casino defendants. All other defendants have entered into agreements with the District Attorney’s Office or have agreed to testify for the District Attorney, said Linn.
“I am disappointed that we were unable to resolve Mr. King’s case,” said Linn, “however we are fully prepared to proceed against him on all charges which were originally alleged.”
King was one of 15 defendants charged in the armed take-over attempt on Oct. 9, 2014, that resulted in the closing of the casino. He turned himself in on Nov. 3, 2014, after being charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a stun gun. Bail was initially set at $800,000, but was raised to $1.75 million during a subsequent court appearance.
After spending nearly 6 months in jail, King was released on May 1 on a supervised release. He didn’t post any bail, but rather has been monitored by the Probation Department, on the condition that he not leave the Madera/Fresno Counties’ jurisdiction, and abide by certain conditions.
The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16, at 9:30 a.m.
