Charges refiled in Kickapoo tribal dispute

Monday, October 25th 2004, 6:00 am

By: News On 6

McLOUD, Okla. (AP) -- The Kickapoo Attorney General has refiled charges against three women who spent two weeks barricaded inside the administration building of the Kickapoo Tribe.

Last week Kickapoo Attorney General Geri Wisner-Foley filed a new case against Auchee Wahpepah, Valentina Jimenez and Glenda Deer. Charges were also filed against new defendants Juanito Prado and Zelma Garza.

The women are charged with burglary and trespassing for their occupation of the tribal headquarters that began December. 19.

Deer says they entered the building through an unlocked door before employees arrived at work. The women vowed to stay inside until tribal Chairman Tony Salazar was ousted and federal officials agreed to audit the tribe's finances.

The sit in at the headquarters ended when tribal police forced their way into the building on New Year's Day and arrested Deer, Wahpepah and Jimenez.

The women accused Salazar of abusing his political influence to get new charges filed. Salazar says Wisner-Foley is only doing her job.