8 News Now investigators first reported that 30-year-old Julie Bush was arrested on suspicion of murder. Bush was initially charged with DUI causing serious injury, domestic violence, attempted murder and drug possession after being arrested by police on Friday, May 24. (KLAS)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A judge on Thursday set bail at $750,000 for a woman accused of running over and killing her boyfriend while high on fentanyl after finding another woman's tampons in a trash can.
8 News Now investigators first reported that 30-year-old Julie Bush was arrested on suspicion of murder. Bush was initially arrested by police on Friday, May 24, and charged with DUI causing serious injury, domestic violence, attempted murder and drug possession.
In court Thursday, prosecutors said Bush will likely be charged with both murder and drunk driving resulting in death. A person called police on Friday and alleged that Bush had intentionally run over her boyfriend, Richard Penard Jr., 51, with his vehicle near Oakey Boulevard and Eastern Avenue in the East Valley, documents state. After the incident, a witness reported seeing Bush “walking around the neighborhood.” [the man] He was crying hysterically.” Penardo later died from his injuries.
Prosecutors said the entire incident was captured on a doorbell camera and showed Bush punching Penard. They asked Las Vegas Magistrate Judge Noreen DeMonte to set bail at $500,000.
Bush's public defender said his client has several defenses in his case. He is asking the judge to set bail at $15,000. “The facts of this case are incredibly horrifying,” he said.
Judge DeMonte set bail at $750,000, but noted it was highly unlikely Bush would ever pay that amount. If he posts bail, Bush will be placed on electronic monitoring and will be required to stay away from the victim's family. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 27.
Bush's public defender pointed to Penard's violent history. Records show Penard has served time in prison for forgery, aiding and abetting a felony, conspiracy to murder and insurance fraud. In his most recent case, a judge sentenced Penard to three to 10 years in prison for unemployment insurance fraud. At the time of the sentencing, authorities said Penard and a co-defendant filed suit while incarcerated.
Prior to that, Penard had entered an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit guilt but agreed prosecutors had enough evidence to convict a jury, for his role in the 2008 murder of Maria Marino. Marino was strangled to death in 2008. Penard then enlisted two women, including his then-wife, to bury Marino's body in Mount Charleston, according to documents. Judge Carolyn Ellsworth sentenced him to two to five years in prison.
