BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man pleaded not guilty to a felony charge accusing him of attempting to hire a hit man.
Leo Mays, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder, a Class A felony. He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Circuit Judge Robin Green on Monday.
He's being held in the Benton County Jail on a $500,000 bond. His next court appearance is May 19.
Mays was arrested Jan. 22.
A confidential informant, referred to as "DU016" in court documents, told a Sheriff's Office detective about Mays' plans to murder another man, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Mays believed the man provided information to law enforcement leading to his arrest on drug charges in December.
Mays was arrested Dec. 11 in connection with drug charges. He was released on $15,000 bond.
Deputies recorded a conversation between Mays and the informant where they discussed the murder-for-hire plot.
The informant told Mays it would cost $5,000 to hire a friend to kill the man. Mays offered to pay the $5,000.
Mays also referenced killing a jailed man in retaliation for him cooperating with law enforcement and the prosecutor's office.
Mays also met with a detective pretending to be a hit man. The detective would be paid $2,500 from Mays and another $2,500 from "DU016."
Mays told the detective to snap the man's neck and rip out his tongue then bring him the tongue.
NW News on 04/09/2014