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Murder-for-hire case ends with plea, probation
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
DADE CITY -- A 68-year-old Hudson man on Monday finally admitted in court that he tried to have his ex-wife killed by a hit man more than three years ago. Sort of. John R. Fabritz was arrested in October 1999 and charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder when undercover Pasco County sheriff's deputies videotaped him trying to hire one of them, thinking he was a hit man. Fabritz initially denied the charges, later claiming in a letter to the court that he was drugged by an acquaintance and intimidated by an actor into making a deal for his wife's murder. Monday, he pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for 15 years of probation, with conditions that he stay in Florida, never contact his ex-wife and undergo testing for drug or alcohol abuse. State guidelines called for a minimum four-year prison sentence, with a maximum of 30 years. Circuit Judge Wayne Cobb asked Fabritz why he chose to plead. "I would like to put an end to it, sir," he said. "I'm just so wore out with all this stuff." The judge also asked if the charge was true. "I don't know," he mumbled. "I guess it is. I don't know." Fabritz was initially released on bail, but when he missed a court date 10 months ago, he was sent to jail to await trial. Earlier this year, Fabritz claimed in a letter to the court that a woman he knew told him she knew a good lawyer, then drugged him with ecstasy and took him to see a reputed crime figure named "Uncle Hector" who intimidated Fabritz into agreeing to paying $5,000 for his ex-wife's murder. Fabritz' ex-wife, Joann, said Monday that she agreed to the plea deal because it will keep him in Florida and away from her, in Illinois, for a long time. She said she still worries about Fabritz' intentions. "Evil minds do not change," she said. "He's a sociopath." Fabritz' court-appointed attorney, Pedro Amador, told the judge that his client will live on a $1,500 monthly pension. He likely will stay with friends when released from jail either late Monday or early today, Amador said. Fabritz still was listed at a Pasco County jail late Monday afternoon.
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From today's Pasco Times |
