Former casino operator faces misdemeanor battery allegation by former bodyguard

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 9:21 a.m.

Ralph Owens claims Stupak assaulted him Oct. 25 in the lounge of the Thunderbird Hotel, which Stupak owns.

"That's silly. I never heard of anyone punching their bodyguard," Stupak said of the allegation.

Owens said that his former boss became angry because he had turned off his cellular phone and Stupak couldn't reach him.

"He came up to me and started screaming. I tried to calm him down and he punched me in the chest. I fell into the chair, got up and he punched me two more times," Owens said.

Owens, who said he had worked for Stupak for the past year, quit on the spot.

According to Owens, Stupak had been physically abusive before.

"I figured it came with the job," Owens said. "This time it went beyond the limits."

Owens says he is disabled from his injuries as a result of the incident and is not working.

Stupak's arraignment is set for Dec. 17 in Las Vegas Municipal Court.

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