PUTNAM, Connecticut — A Putnam man is facing charges after he tried to hire a hitman, state police said.
State police said a "confidential informant" went to Troop D in Danielson to report that his employer had asked for help with finding a "hitman" to kill another person.
State police learned that there was a current court case involving 52-year-old Leonard Mwithiga and the victim and that the murder-for-hire plot would make it so the victim could not testify in the proceeding. State police did not release information on what the court case was about.
According to officials, the Bureau of Special Investigation and the Violent Crimes Task Force detectives had a trooper go undercover as a "hitman." After the investigation, Mwithiga was taken into custody without incident on Monday.
Mwithiga was charged with witness intimidation, conspiracy to commit murder, and criminal attempt of murder with special circumstances.
Mwithiga's bond was set at $5 million, and he is set to appear in court Tuesday.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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