The treasurer of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians has been charged with embezzling from the tribe, the second tribal member to face charges since the tribe was scandalized by the 2006 federal indictments of its entire tribal council.
Tribal Treasurer Sharlyne Elizabeth Burke, 37, was booked and released last week on suspicion of felony grand theft embezzlement of casino funds.
Her arrest follows the 2007 arrest of former tribal Treasurer Eddie Franklin Knight on felony misappropriation of tribal funds and grand theft embezzlement.
Knight pleaded guilty to misdemeanor embezzlement last year, an agreement made after he repaid money he took from the tribe, said Mendocino County Deputy District Attorney Brian Newman.
Burke is accused of taking more than $400 on three separate occasions, said Mendocino County Deputy District Attorney Matt Hubley.
He declined to give further details of the case.
Tribal leaders could not be reached for comment, but they issued a statement through their public relations firm.
?We will reserve judgment until the court proceedings have been resolved. Meanwhile, our thoughts are with Sharlyne and her family during this difficult time,? said spokesman Doug Elmets.
However, some tribal members continue to speak out against the tribe?s direction.
?It just shows the tribal council is up to its old tricks,? said tribal member Correy Alcantra, a longtime critic.
The arrest comes as the tribe has been working to burnish its image, which was tarnished by the 2006 indictments of seven former council members. Most of the charges have since been dropped.
The indictments followed a raid on tribal offices in 2004. Nearly 100 federal, state and local law enforcement agents descended on Shodakai Casino, tribal offices and the homes of the tribal council members, seizing computers and files.
Former Tribal Chairwoman Priscilla Hunter, her son, Michael Hunter, and tribal council members Michelle Campbell, Iris Martinez, Darlene Crabtree, Allan Crabtree and Fred Naredo were ousted in elections held in late 2004 and early 2005.
Knight was elected as treasurer at that time.
Burke was elected as Knight?s replacement in early 2008.
The federal charges filed against each of the former council members varied. But all seven were indicted on multiple counts of misappropriating casino funds between January 1995 and December 2004.
Priscilla Hunter, Campbell and Martinez also were charged with multiple counts of tax evasion. Those three and Michael Hunter also were charged with stealing tribal funds by charging personal items on tribal credit and debit cards.
By mid-2008, the U.S. Attorney?s office dropped most of the charges and all but two defendants ? Priscilla Hunter and Campbell ? from the case.
Campbell last month was given five years of probation and ordered to repay money she took from tribal funds after she pleaded guilty to one count of failing to file a tax return, according to U.S. District Court records.
It was not clear from court records whether Hunter?s case has been resolved and her attorney was not available for comment Thursday.
Researcher Teresa Meikle contributed to this report.
You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com.
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