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Last Chukchansi Take-Over Defendant Settles Case

MADERA COUNTY — The last of 15 defendants charged in the attempted armed takeover at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in October 2014 has settled his case, according to District Attorney David Linn.

Vernon King was charged with  kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a stun gun.

Vernon James KingKing 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 charges were filed against him. With bail set at 1.75 million, King spent nearly six months in jail, and was released on May 1 on a supervised release.

Linn says all charges against King have been dismissed except one count of false imprisonment, which will also be dismissed if King doesn’t violate any laws between now and May, when all 15 defendants will have this matter cleared.

“This is the same deal we offered him two months ago,” says Linn. “With all the charges against him, he was facing as much as 50 years exposure.”

Linn says he was not totally happy with the deal, but felt that it was in everyone’s best interest to resolve the criminal case so that the tribe can focus on dealing with their civil matters with the county, state and federal governments and hopefully get the casino reopened as soon as possible.

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Sierra News Online

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