A former security official-turned-preacher accused in a 1981 triple homicide in Rancho Mirage was due in court today for a felony settlement conference, but has now delayed his appearance until May 28.

James "Jimmy" Hughes faces charges of conspiracy and murder in the deaths of Ralph Arthur Boger, 42, Patricia Roberta Castro, 44, and Alfred Alvarez, 32, who was vice chairman of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Tribal Council.

They were found dead on July 1, 1981 at 35040 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage.

Hughes also faces a special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment or life in prison without parole for the 53-year-old defendant will not come until after his preliminary hearing.

Hughes was set to appear in court today for a felony settlement conference, which is an information discussion between attorneys to come to a possible resolution of a case.

Hughes, who was extradited from Miami to Riverside County on Dec. 12, is accused of conspiring with three other men to keep Alvarez from exposing alleged illegal activities of the tribe's casino founder, John Philip Nichols.

In addition to Hughes and Nichols, court documents identify the alleged co-conspirators as Nichols' son, John Paul Nichols, and Glen Heggstad, who lives in Palm Desert.

Hughes, who was security chief for the tribe at the time of the murders, was arrested in September at Miami International Airport as he was about to leave on a flight for Honduras.

Hughes had worked in Honduras for 15 years as a preacher for Jimmy Hughes Ministries, which he founded in 1995.

The California Attorney General's Office is handling the case because Hughes is a distant cousin of Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco.

Hughes is being held without bail at the Indio Jail.