WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Deputies in Florida say a man already in jail for lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 12 tried to hire someone to kill his victim and witnesses.
According to an affidavit, 26-year-old Richard Palmer asked his cellmate at the Polk County Jail if he knew anyone willing to kill the victim and witnesses in his case. He also asked to burn down their home to destroy evidence.
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In exchange, he offered to pay $15,000 along with a sports car.
Deputies say his plans were foiled when he hired an undercover officer to do the job.
"This is as bad an individual, as mean an individual, that has ever walked the face of the earth," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
In addition to the child molestation charges, Palmer was charged Wednesday with two counts of solicitation to commit murder and one count of solicitation to commit arson.