Bob Bashara Enters Not Guilty Plea, Conference Scheduled

In a brief hearing early Tuesday, Bob Bashara appeared before Judge Timothy M. Kenny and entered a not guilty plea on .

This was his second arraignment in Third Circuit Court in Detroit and his first appearance with his new attorney, Mark Kriger. .

but a judge ordered Griem to remain on the case and to help with the transition to a new attorney.

Bashara is charged with hiring a hitman to kill , . Gentz is . He has told officials that Bob Bashara hired him to kill Jane Bashara.

During an audiotape of the first payment was played as part of the presentation of evidence against Bob Bashara.

Bob Bashara waived the formal reading of his charge and entered a not guilty plea Tuesday. He spoke briefly with his attorney after entering the courtroom but made a quick exit at the end of the hearing.

If convicted, the charge of solicitation to murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Kriger declined comment afterward, saying he thinks it's improper to comment about pending cases. Kriger did say that he just finished up a six-week trial in federal court and needs to get up to date on Bob Bashara's case.

Deputy prosecutors requested a protective order in the case but did not specify any more information about it. Kenny granted the request.

Prosecutors also informed the judge that they were prepared to provide Kriger with discovery—all of the information related to the case, such as witness list and evidence—Tuesday.

Kenny ordered that all discovery information remain with the defense attorney and his office, emphasizing that it should not be released to anyone.

Kenny set a pre-trial conference for Aug. 17 before Judge Bruce Morrow, who will be handling the case from here out. Morrow was not available Tuesday so Kenny, as presiding judge of the criminal division, handled the basic hearing today on behalf of Morrow, he said.