Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is under new leadership.
The Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is set to reopen on Thursday, December 31 after 14 months of inactivity. The casino was closed in October 2014 after rival factions of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians had an armed standoff in the casino.
At the time of the incident, the National Indian Gaming Commission recommended the closing of the casino, until sensible leadership could resolve disputes and operate under standard procedures. California officials moved quickly to close the casino, due to concerns over public safety. Last week, the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and the National Indian Gaming Commission finally agreed to a settlement which would allow the reopening of the casino.
New Tribal Leadership
Since the closing, new leadership has been selected, so those responsible for the disputes which led to the armed confrontation are no longer in power. New Tribal Chairwoman Claudia Gonzales released a statement about the process the Chukchansi Indians have undergone to reach this point.
Gonzales said in her release, “Since our election, the Tribal Council has worked every day with our government partners, casino management team and local business partners to get Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino ready to open for our customers. We are thankful for the support of our members and believe this is an important first step in bringing prosperity back to our people.”
The formal opening ceremony for the casino is January 15, 2016. The Chukchansi Gold Resort reopens its door on New Year’s Eve, which has been a traditionally good night for the casino. It is another matter whether the casino can publicize its reopening enough for customers to know in time to make plans for a casino visit.
Chukchansi Factional Strife
Madera Sheriff John Anderson and Madera County District Attorney Michael Keitz said the controversy surrounding the Chukchansi casino had been brewing for months. At the time the casino was closed, Michael Keitz told ABC News, “We have been interested in the affairs of the Chukchansi tribe for a long time. We are well aware of the disputes amongst the tribal members. It is not our duty here to get involved in the disputes between the tribal members. It is our duty to enforce the laws where there is a violation of the laws.”
Two factions had split over a federally-mandated audit of the casino’s books. The tribal authority had refused an audit by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which would have led to the loss of the casino’s gaming license by the end of October 2014. A splinter faction led by Tex McDonald accused the management of playing games with the tribe’s future, implying their reticence was an attempt to hide illegal bookkeeping on their part (up to and including embezzlement).
How the Standoff Happened
In August 2014, Tex McDonald and his faction lost a tribal election, so they lost any say they had in the management of the casino. At the same time, McDonald’s faction still was in control of reservation security. Tex McDonald and his followers moved their headquarters out of the casino.
On October 9, 2014, Tex McDonald led 15 people into the Chukchansi Casino on what has been described as an “armed takeover” by some and a “scuffle” by others. McDonald’s men used their role as reservation security to detain casino security, even wrestling some to the ground and handcuffing them. From there, they seized control over casino offices and raided the accounting information, in hopes of securing evidence needed to show the casino management was corrupt.
Shots in the Casino
At one point, two factions of the tribe control various sections of the casino. While customers were still in the casino, shots were fired, sending patrons scrambling to the exits. Eyewitnesses described how chips were still on the table, so gamblers were ducking for cover while trying to scoop up their chips.
Eventually, a standoff occurred which was only ended when the Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene. Tex McDonald and his men were eventually arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault and battery, and false imprisonment.
Tex McDonald’s Plea Bargain
On July 2, 2015, Tex McDonald signed a plea agreement on a false imprisonment charge and was sentenced to 485 days in prison after pleading guilty. By that time, he had served 285 days in jail and was given time served for those days, leading to an early release. Had he been convicted of a felony, Tex McDonald was facing a third-strike offense and was facing California’s mandatory life sentence. His last conviction had been in 1994. While in jail, the 65-year old Tex McDonald had received a broken jaw from a jailhouse altercation. It was unknown whether tribal animosity had led to that altercation or not.
Prosecutors took into account Tex McDonald’s long service to the community in deciding to offer the plea agreement. McDonald had worked 12 years as a substance abuse counselor, before he eventually turned to tribal politics. Superior Court Judge Dale Blea, who did the sentencing, said at the time, “Mr. McDonald has served the Native American community for many years as a certified substance abuse counselor.”
About the Chukchansi Gold Resort
The Chukchansi Gold Resort is located in the city of Coarsegold, located between Fresco and the Yosemite National Park. The casino opened in 2003 and features 56,000 square feet of gaming space. It has 43 table games and 1,800 slot machines. The hotel includes 400 rooms, while its 373-seat buffet has won awards. The complex also features a “world-class steakhouse” and a spa.
Reopening the casino is a good sign for Madera County, which lost thousands of jobs when it closed in October 2014. Most of those who worked at the casino at the time of the closure should resume their jobs, though some are likely to have moved out of the area to pursue other job opportunities.
