Tabish family pleads for him to make bail

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999 | 11:48 a.m.

Rick Tabish's family members are pleading with District Judge Joseph Bonaventure to set bail for the Montana contractor charged with killing Ted Binion.

Tabish's wife, Mary Jo Tabish, his parents, Frank and Lani Tabish, and his brother, Greg Tabish, all submitted emotional letters to Bonaventure late Wednesday attached to court papers seeking bail be set at $100,000.

Bonaventure has scheduled a hearing Friday morning to decide whether to allow the 34-year-old Tabish to post bond and reduce the bail of his co-defendant, 27-year-old Sandy Murphy from $300,000 to $100,000.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, the lead prosecutor in the case, is opposing the defense efforts to lessen bail conditions. Roger had filed papers asking Bonaventure to keep Tabish behind bars and revoke Murphy's bail.

Tabish has been held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center since his June 24 arrest with Murphy, his reported lover who was Binion's live-in girlfriend at the time of the gambling figure's slaying a year ago.

"Rick is not the type of man to run and hide, but rather to meet his opponents head-on and prove himself to the world," Mary Jo Tabish wrote. "I know him better than anyone, and at this time his main concerns are to clear his name, repay his debts and take care of his family."

His wife of eight years blamed the media for much of his troubles.

"Unfortunately, people don't realize that the press is putting a spin on reality to influence their thinking and creating a mini-drama to keep them coming back for more," she said. "For the press, the ultimate end to this story would be 'guilty.' Rick doesn't deserve to be part of this media charade."

Tabish's wife said the criminal charges have taken a toll on the family's business and financial welfare.

"I won't be able to hold onto what little is left without him, for the vultures are circling, and with every day he spends incarcerated, they loom ever closer," she said.

Frank Tabish, who lives in Missoula, Mont., said in his letter that he believes in his son's innocence and that his son is not a flight risk, as prosecutors have alleged.

"Your honor, we have not frequented a courtroom much in our lives," the elder Tabish wrote. "But at the pretrial hearing, we could not believe that witnesses who lied, perjured themselves and were self-admitted drug dealers (who) supplied heroin to Ted Binion, testified and left the courtroom without any negative consequences."

Greg Tabish, the defendant's younger brother, said he would put up his home as collateral if bail is set.

He said he believes his brother will be vindicated at trial.

"The only story to date has been orchestrated by the district attorney's office, an overzealous private investigator and the media," he wrote.