Police say inmate tried to have child victim killed

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a man in jail on child molestation charges tried to arrange for another inmate to kill his alleged victim.

Mount Vernon police said in a news release Wednesday a 50-year-old man from Sedro-Woolley was charged Tuesday with criminally attempting to commit murder.

Police say the Skagit Prosecutor's Office contacted them May 11 about the inmate soliciting others to commit murder. Detectives say they learned the man believed if the alleged child victim was "no longer around" his charges would be dropped.

Investigators say the man offered to sign over three vehicles he said were worth about $10,000 in exchange for his cellmate to kill the child and an adult.

Police say both intended victims are safe and were not harmed in any way.

Police say the man's cellmate was not involved in the crime other than as a cooperative witness and he won't face charges.