Tyme Maidu Tribal Takeover Defendants Plead No Contest to Berry Creek Rancheria Trespass

A third set of defendants have changed their pleas to charges related to the 2013 takeover of an Oroville tribe’s offices.

As with two previous sets of defendants, Donald Hedrick, Emanuel Lee, Teresa Lee, Robertha Timmons and Robert Wagner pleaded no contest to an added count of misdemeanor trespass of a structure or land not open to the general public.

Co-defendant Kathy Ann Frazier had been scheduled to be with the others Wednesday, but it was announced that she died Dec. 23.

The defendants had been charged in Butte County Superior Court with felony vandalism for the May 16, 2013, incident at the Tyme Maidu Tribal Offices near Gold Country Casino.

The incident was reportedly over a tribal disenrollment vote for four individuals who were subsequently disenrolled. During the standoff, 19 people locked themselves inside the office, causing what officials estimated to be $20,000 in damage to property including walls, windows and computers.

In court, Hedrick told Judge Tamara Mosbarger that the defendants had been standing for those who couldn’t speak for themselves in the Berry Creek Rancheria tribal membership issue, including those that were too young or feared repercussions.

Outside of court, he said the defendants would come together as a family and hope that what happened to them didn’t happen with other tribes. Many of the tribal membership issues around the country are happening because of money, Hedrick said.

Timmons said the situation was crazy. “Our family started it and our family is kicked out,” she said.

Tribal Disenrollment: Grand Jury Indictment in Berry Creek Rancheria Takeover

A Grand Jury indictment was unsealed today in Butte County Superior Court against 24 people allegedly involved in a takeover and vandalism last May at the Tyme Maidu Tribal Offices at Gold Country Casino, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Each of the defendants faces a charge of felony vandalism causing damage over $400, but three of the defendants face other allegations.

Of the 24 people named in the indictment, 21 were arraigned today before Judge Tamara Mosbarger.

The other three people named did not appear in court, and warrants have been issued for their arrests.

Nineteen of the defendants were arrested during the initial incident. Five others were not at the scene.

The indictments stem from an incident May 16, 2013, where 19 people locked and barricaded themselves inside the tribal offices for nearly 12 hours, reportedly over the tribe's disenrolling some individuals.

The Grand Jury met for two days last month hearing testimony and evidence in the case, according to District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

Ramsey told this newspaper there was considerable surveillance video footage of incident. He said video reportedly shows four people who drove pickups to the site with tools, lumber and chicken wire before the standoff began.

Another defendant allegedly worked on the inside and provided the group with a key.

The Grand Jury also heard testimony about a claim that the group sought to take over the Gold Country Casino and related bank accounts, Ramsey said.

Standoff at Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians ENDS in Multiple Arrests. Violent Action by Sheriffs End Standoff

A lengthy standoff at the tribal headquarters of the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians in Oroville ended in multiple arrests Thursday afternoon.

Butte County Sheriff's media liaison Miranda Bowersos said approximately 15 to 20 tribe members, unhappy with a certain internal tribal process, locked themselves in the headquarter building off Olive Highway around 1 a.m.

Deputies later revealed the protesting members were disgruntled due to a vote taken to remove numerous members from the tribe and reservation.

Deputies established contact with the individuals through the door of the building and were trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution. However, after hours of unsuccessful negotiations, deputies set of a flash bang grenade and accessed the building through a rear entry point around noon, said deputies.

All individuals inside were detained and transported to county jail, deputies said.

Learn More on Disenrollment, Ethnic Cleansing in Indian Gaming Country at these Links:

Gaming Revenue Blamed for Disenrollment

disenrollment is paper Genocide

CA Tribal Cleansing

Tribal terrorism

TRIBAL TERRORISM includes Banishment

Nooksack Disenrollment