A Hempfield man has entered a guilty plea for his involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme targeted at his sister, sources report. Peter Cute, 64, admitted to trying to enlist a hitman to end the life of his estranged sister, who he claims stood between him and family property and money. According to TRIBLive, Cute's unsuccessful bid carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Back in April, Cute mistakenly approached an informant to coordinate the crime, leading him to meet an undercover detective from North Huntingdon at an Eat’n Park restaurant in New Stanton. This meet-up, where Cute offered $1,000 for the hit, was documented in a nearly 30-minute recorded conversation, according to WTAE. Cute, in jail since his arrest, refused an earlier plea deal that could have seen him behind bars for eight to 20 years. He chose to plead guilty without any sentencing agreement in place.
While sentencing is yet to be determined, Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears has tasked the probation department with investigating Cute's background, a process that will inform the official sentencing hearing scheduled for approximately three months from now. In court, Cute's defense attorney, Sarah Reeb, indicated she would push for a lighter sentence, citing Cute's health issues, including leg sores and other physical ailments that have confined him to a wheelchair, as reported by TRIBLive.
