Tyme Maidu troubles

On Feb. 5, the Butte County Grand Jury indicted 24 people connected with the May 16 takeover and 12-hour occupation of the Tyme Maidu tribal offices in Oroville to protest a disenrollment procedure aimed at a number of tribal members.

According to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office, the occupation caused more than $20,000 in damages. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said using the grand jury was more efficient than holding 24 separate hearings.

In a recent phone interview, Ramsey noted that there was a recent election to enroll members into the tribe and that absentee ballots were sent to a post office box at the Oroville post office. But over the weekend of Feb. 8 and 9, someone entered the post office and pried open the post office box that held the ballots and stole them. The Oroville Police Department is investigating, Ramsey said.