ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A man has been sentenced to 13.5 years in prison in a murder-for-hire scheme related to indecent liberties with a child accusations.
Austin Dakota Haynie, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of felony solicit to commit first-degree murder and one count of felony indecent liberties with a minor, a news release from the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office said.
On Feb. 7, 2023, a family member of a 14-year-old found Haynie, who is no relation to the victim’s family, hiding in the teen’s closet, the news release said. The family immediately notified authorities.
Haynie was 22 years old at the time.
In North Carolina, people younger than 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity and an adult who engages in sex with someone under the age of consent can be charged with a sex crime.
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Interviews and text messages corroborated a relationship between the teen and Haynie, the news release said. Haynie later confessed to the sexual relationship and was taken into custody.
While in the Buncombe County Detention Facility, Haynie attempted to hire inmates to kill the family member who found him hiding in the teen’s closet and the lead detective assigned to investigate the sex crime, according to the news release.
“Haynie gave the inmates specific details about both the family member and the investigating officer to assist in facilitating the requested murders,” the news release said. “Haynie offered a reward to be paid upon the completion.”
An inmate told authorities about Haynie’s plot, the news release said.
Following his guilty pleas, Haynie received three active consecutive sentences for a total prison term of 162-229 months and was ordered to register as a sex offender for 30 years and have no contact with the teen for the remainder of his natural life.