Suspect may know whereabouts of missing Binion loot

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

David Mattsen, awaiting trial in the theft of Ted Binion's $6 million silver fortune, suggested on the witness stand today that he knows the whereabouts of some of Binion's missing assets.

But when pressed by Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, Mattsen refused to disclose the location of the assets.

"I can't touch nothing that's not mine," Mattsen testified.

After the testimony, Roger told the Sun that he always has believed Binion's convicted killers, Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish, had hidden some of Binion's assets after his death.

"Mr. Mattsen's testimony in court today confirms our suspicion," Roger said.

Roger added that he planned to inform Binion's $55 million estate about Mattsen's testimony and would step up his own search for the missing Binion assets.

The estate believes that Binion's $300,000 collection of antique coins and currency as well as millions in rare Carson City-minted silver dollars are among the items missing.

Mattsen took the witness stand at a hearing today before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure to obtain $15,000 in taxpayer funds for legal expenses to fight the silver theft charges.

He also testified that Tabish paid him $500 a week for six weeks after Binion's Sept. 17, 1998, death.

He said he took the money even though he never did any work for Tabish.

He said he also received $600 from Murphy after Binion's death.

Despite acknowledging receiving money from the two convicted killers, Mattsen now is claiming that he is penniless.

Bonaventure today declared Mattsen indigent and said he was entitled to $8,800 in public funds.

Most of that money will go toward a $6,359 bill from district attorney's office for 14 boxes of records in the theft case.

Roger said he would not oppose giving Mattsen public money to pay the $6,359 bill plus an extra $1,000 for investigative fees.

But the prosecutor said he didn't believe Mattsen could justify receiving any additional money.

Mattsen's attorney James "Bucky" Buchanan said last month that Mattsen "stands in the same shoes" as Murphy, who once was awarded up to $20,000 in public funds for her defense prior to her May 19 conviction on charges of killing Binion and stealing his valuables.

Mattsen, 54, and his co-defendant, Michael Milot, are set to stand trial in Bonaventure's courtroom on Nov. 13.

The two men, along with Montana contractor Rick Tabish, were arrested in Pahrump two days after Binion's death after allegedly digging up the silver from an underground vault and trying to steal it.