Prosecutor: Bashara Paid For Gentz's Hit

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Bond has been set at $15 million for Bob Bashara, charged with solicitation of murder after he allegedly offered to pay more then one person to kill handyman Joe Gentz while he awaits trial in Wayne County Jail.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Bashara wanted Gentz dead prior to a planned July 23 court appearance. Gentz is charged with killing Jane Bashara in her Grosse Pointe Park home in January. Gentz has said he did it at Bob Bashara's behest.

[RAW VIDEO] Kym Worthy Announces Bob Bashara Charges

"He became more anxious about it as time went on, and as July 23rd approached," Worthy said. "Evidence will show that money was exchanged ... The evidence will show Mr. Bashara wanted Mr. Gentz killed because he didn't want him to testify."

Worthy said the investigation into the alleged hit began June 8 when Bashara "met with another person, not a law enforcement official, for the purpose of hatching a plan to kill Mr. Gentz in the jail."

She added: "This was not the only person he solicited to kill Mr. Gentz."

The solicitation charge carries a possible penalty of life in prison.

Bashara was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in 36th District Court.   If he's able to come up with the $15 million cash bond, the judge ordered that he wear a tether.

He was also ordered to surrender his passport and driver's license.

Joe Gentz's attorney, Susan Reed, was the one who reported rumors of a hit on her client to police about a month ago.

Reed spoke to WWJ Newsradio 950 at Bashara's arraignment.

"I believe he (Bashara) is an erratic person. I don't believe that he is a person that can control his temperament or emotions," said Reed. "And, from what I've seen, he may not be a danger to the general population but he is a danger to my client."

Earlier, David Griem, the attorney for Bob Bashara, said the Grosse Pointe businessman has been placed on suicide watch following his Monday arrest.

Griem said Bashara was in "complete disbelief" and responded "this is a setup" when told about the charges Monday. He said Bashara denied any knowledge of any kind of plot.

"His belief is that the prosecutor's office was going to charge him no matter what, and that they found another vehicle or way in which to charge him," said Griem, adding that the idea his client would try to kill Gentz, especially while he is locked up, is crazy.

"Something out of 'Mission: Impossible' to try to get into a facility such as the Wayne County Jail to carry out a hit. It just doesn't make sense," he said.