The Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown Was Opened in 1985.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a man and a woman who are alleged to have committed armed robbery against a gambler won thousands of dollars from a local casino. The suspects appear to have seen the man win his 4-figure jackpot, then set up an ambush to take his money at gunpoint.
A man from Groveland had won $9,000 at the Chicken Ranch Casino. He was driving home with his winnings on Thursday when a woman on the side of the road flagged him to stop. She was standing next to a pickup, appearing to have car trouble of some sort. When the man pulled over to assist her, a man appeared with a gun in hand and demanded the samaritan’s money.
Details of the Robbery
At first, the gambler denied having any money. The gunman claimed he was knew that the man had won a big prize, then demanded once more that he turn the money over. Eventually, the gambler gave the male suspect his $9,000. The robber and his accomplice got into the pickup and drove away.
The vehicle the alleged robbers drove was a Brown Chevrolet pickup truck. The robbery is said to have taken place on Highway 49. The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office has asked the public that anyone with information relating to the crime should call their office at 533-5815.
Casino Surveillance Footage
The suspected robbers likely made one major tactical error in choosing to rob a gambler. In revealing they knew he had won money at the casino, they tipped their hand that one or both of them were present at the Chicken Ranch Casino.
If so, then those people are likely to be on the surveillance footage at the casino. The first thing law enforcement officers are likely to do is get access to that video. They are likely to make a list of the people seen on the video footage, especially those who were near the gaming area where the winner of the $9,000 won his money.
Reasons the Robbers Are Likely to Be Caught
Also, if the alleged armed robbers gambled at any time through the night, their names might well be in the casino’s database. Either way, the sheriff’s office should be able to identify the suspects, if they devote enough resources to the case.
Robberies Usually Not Solved
In the United States, robberies usually are not solved. On a national average from 2012, only 27% of robberies are ever solved. Though it is grouped among the violent crimes–which have a much higher rate of being solved–robbery has similarities to property crimes.
Though it is 10% to 15% higher than larceny (19%) and burglary (13%), it is far below the average for murder (64%) and aggravated assault (57%). Violent crimes are rarer, while the public demands justice for the crime. Investigators tend to devote most resources to these cases.
The Gambler’s Testimony Is Pivotal
One reason robberies are solved more often than the property crimes is they have a witness. In this case, the gambler is likely to give investigators details on the robbers’ appearance. If and when it comes to trial, he’ll be able to identify the witnesses. For that reason, he’s lucky to be alive. As the old saying goes, dead men tell no tales.
In the end, criminals in such cases usually need to make mistakes. It appears these criminals have, but only updates in the days and weeks ahead will reveal if those suppositions are right.
February 16, 2016 Update: Man Missing from Chicken Ranch Rancheria Casino
Authorities never seemed to find the man and woman who robbed the gambler in October. In a February 2016, another gamblers at the Chicken Ranch Casino appears to have had trouble after leaving there.
Allen Christopher Martin disappeared after leaving the Chicken Ranch Casino. Family and friends say he had not been seen again, and they are worried about his safety and well-being. Again, law enforcement is asking for anyone with clues to come forward. Being robbed on the side of the road is terrifying, but the case of Allen Martin might be darker still.
