Murphy wedding news questioned

Sandy Murphy's upcoming wedding is raising eyebrows of folks who have been tracking her post-prison career.

It was reported here Sunday that Murphy is getting married late this month to Laguna Beach art gallery owner Kevin Pieropan. At least that's what someone wants us to think.

Friends of casino owner Gary Primm say someone's conning me.

They tell me Primm has been romantically involved with Murphy for about three years.

Providing the wedding information to me was restaurateur Freddie Glusman, who owns Piero's Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas and the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach and knows everyone mentioned above. They've all been on Primm's yacht, The Primadonna, during getaways to Mexico.

Glusman informed me that Pieropan has been dating Murphy for three years.

So what's going on here? Twists galore, with a dash of chicanery is my hunch.

As a casino owner, Primm has to be cautious about the company he keeps. That goes with having a Nevada gaming license.

Murphy was charged with murder in the drug-related 1998 death of casino owner Ted Binion and convicted in 2000.

Her murder conviction was overturned in late 2003. She was granted a new trial and was acquitted of the murder charges in 2004.

She was freed four years ago after a short stint in the Nevada Women's Correctional facility on theft counts related to Binion's multimillion-dollar cache of silver in Pahrump.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Saks Fifth Avenue hosts the "Vegas Dozen 2009: The Men We Love and Why We Love Them" on April 22. This year's honorees: Michael T. Carr, president, Greenspun Media Group; Pat Christenson, president, Las Vegas Events; Bill Hornbuckle, president and chief operating officer of Mandalay Bay resort and casino; David Kirvin, partner, Kirvin Doak Communications; Lon Kruger, UNLV basketball coach; George Maloof, president, the Palms casino resort; Gustav Mauler, chef and president of Gustav International; David Robins, managing partner, operations and corporate chef, Las Vegas, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group; Michael A. Severino, general manager event marketing, Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada; Jack Sheehan, author and public speaker; Kerry Simon, owner/chef, Simon Restaurant; and Jason Strauss, managing partner, TAO Group. The event, with Phyllis McGuire emceeing, benefits the Nevada Cancer Institute. It starts at 6 p.m. ...

After a 21/2-year run at WFKB-FM in Reading, Pa., Ken Johnson is heading back to Las Vegas. The station returned to a Christian music format after a deal fell through. Johnson, who arrived in Las Vegas in 1990 and had a 15-year run here with morning show partner Jim Tofte at KKLZ-FM 96.3 and KSFN-AM 1140, said he may have to change careers "until things turn around." His Web site is: kenjdemo.com.

SIGHTINGS

Mel B, former Spice Girl and co-star of the upcoming "Peepshow," dining at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday with her husband, Stefan Belafonte. ... Actor Corbin Bernsen, having a berry bowl and smoked salmon at Society Café at Encore on Tuesday. He was with his family. ... Rapper Flo Rida, tossing $10,000 into the crowd at Blush Boutique (Wynn) on Tuesday. He performed a 45-minute set atop the Blush bar. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday: San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips, rapper Too $hort, singer/producer Ray J, and actor/comedian Bill Bellamy, who was celebrating his 44th birthday. ... The Miss USA contestants, with reigning Miss USA Crystle Stewart, at Lance Burton's magic show (Monte Carlo) on Wednesday. They shoot their official swimsuit photo today at the pool at Planet Hollywood Resort and get a lesson on making sushi tonight at SushiSamba (Palazzo) before having dinner there. ... Stewart is appearing at Reality Cares' AmeriFace benefit Friday at Prive (Planet Hollywood Resort). Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KVBC-TV, Channel 3, is emceeing the event, which benefits people with facial differences such as cleft lips and palates. Starts with a 6 p.m. red carpet.

THE PUNCH LINE

"David Letterman got married... Why would he get married? Maybe he was running out of reasons to be cranky." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.