Hit-man case suspects to be tried together

A mother and son accused of conspiring to hire a hit man to kill a 15-year-old relative will be tried together.

Myra Caldwell, 57, and William Caldwell, 40, are charged with conspiring to have the teen killed so she couldn’t testify against William Caldwell, who is charged with raping the teen.

First District Judge Charles Hosack ordered that the Caldwells be tried together in the murder conspiracy case, despite objections from defense attorneys.

Shawn Nunley, representing Myra Caldwell, said there are different facts in the cases against Myra Caldwell and her son, according to court records. He worried that trying the two together would be prejudicial to his client.

Public Defender Martin Neils, William Caldwell’s attorney, echoed Nunley’s concerns.

Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen said the two were co-conspirators and they should be tried together, according to the records.

He said the teenage victim already had to be flown in twice for preliminary hearings in the case.

The Caldwells’ trial date has yet to be scheduled.

Meanwhile, the jailhouse informant who exposed the plot was praised in court Tuesday for his role in the investigation. Don Delesdernier, who has testified the kill-for-hire plot was his idea, was sentenced to probation instead of jail for felony drug charges at his sentencing hearing this week.

Verharen recommended probation for Delesdernier, as did the FBI agent who investigated the murder-for-hire case.

First District Judge Lansing Haynes commended Delesdernier for coming forward with the information and not asking for anything in return, according to court records.

Haynes said Delesdernier was given a “chance to be a hero,” the records said.

“Don’t throw this opportunity away,” Haynes told him.