Juan-Carlos Cruz Sentenced: Food Network Chef Gets Nine Years for Murder-for-Hire Plot
LOS ANGELES (CBS/KCBS/AP) Former Food Network chef Juan-Carlos Cruz was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for soliciting two homeless men to kill his wife.
The former "Calorie Commando" TV chef pleaded no contest Oct. 26 to charges that he hired the homeless men to kill his wife, reports CBS station KCBS.
Looking considerably grayer than he did during his arrest in May, Cruz turned to catch one more glimpse of his wife Jennifer Campbell as he was led from the brief hearing. She was seated in the front row of the courtroom with her attorney.
Defense attorney Shawn Chapman Holley said Cruz is expected to serve half of the nine-year term because no serious, violent felony was committed.
Cruz was arrested in May by Santa Monica police after a homeless man reported being offered $500 to kill his wife Jennifer L. Campbell, a 47-year-old attorney.
Prosecutors have not released a motive in the case, and Campbell and Holley declined comment Monday.
Police say they set up a sting operation and videotaped Cruz arranging the killing with several homeless men.
Cruz hosted the "Calorie Commando" show on the Food Network that ended four years ago, and also published "The Calorie Countdown Cookbook."