Six months ago, Matt Franklin stepped down as chairman of the Ione Band of Miwoks under a darkening cloud of controversy and accusations. On Oct. 1, Franklin called 911 from his home in Elk Grove and told emergency dispatchers that he had been robbed and stabbed in the chest.

A spokesman from the Elk Grove Police Department confirmed this week that Franklin reported himself the victim of a burglary and a crime involving assault with a deadly weapon on Oct. 1. The call to emergency responders came from Franklin around 1:39 p.m. that day. Elk Grove Police officers raced to Franklin's home in the eastern part of the city, near Wilton.

"The victim was alone at the time of the incident," said Chris Trim, an officer with Elk Grove PD. "He suffered minor cuts to his upper torso from a knife." Trim could not comment on potential suspects and said the reported crime was still under investigation.

Once seen as a driving force in the Ione Band of Miwoks' quest to build a new casino in Plymouth, Franklin has been under a microscope for half a year, following accusations that tribal funds vanished under his watch. On May 13, tribal member Glen Villa publicly announced that Franklin had resigned as chairman amidst allegations of tribal council corruption and misuse of tribal funds. Villa added that members of the tribe had been questioning the misuse of tribal funds for months, with little to no explanation from the tribal council.

Shortly after Villa's statements, the Ione Band of Miwoks issued a press release referring to the controversy around Franklin as "a very sad time." The release also thanked Franklin for his years of service.

This week, several members of the Ione Band of Miwoks, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed skepticism about Franklin's reports of having been attacked in his home. Each claimed that, regardless of what happened on Oct. 1, the real story was that some Miwoks were pressing for Franklin to be investigated for alleged embezzlement of tribal funds. Two sources claimed that a letter on behalf of the tribe had been sent to the California Attorney General's office regarding Franklin. However, contacted by the Ledger Dispatch this week, Kate Gibbs, a representative from the California Attorney General's office, said she could find no record of receiving a complaint about Franklin from the Ione Band of Miwoks. She added that any matters pertaining to problems with tribal funds would fall under federal jurisdiction.

Earlier in the week, a tribal spokesperson said that Franklin was still a member of the Ione Band of Miwoks, though no longer a board member.

Attempts by the Ledger Dispatch to contact Matthew Franklin for this story were unsuccessful.