Man charged in alleged murder-for-hire case
A Hot Springs man was arrested Monday for allegedly trying to hire a friend to kill a local woman he claims cheated him out of some money last year.
Ricky Cleveland Alexander, 58, was charged with a felony count of solicitation of murder in the first degree, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, after the man he attempted to hire instead reported the matter to Hot Springs police. As part of the investigation, the friend agreed to wear a wire — a concealed listening device — on four separate occasions.
Alexander is being held in lieu of $750,000 bond and his case is being filed directly to Garland County Circuit Court, where a court date had not been set as of late Monday.
According to a news release from the HSPD, detectives became aware of Alexander’s plot
to kill Amy Emley on Feb. 21 and began working in conjunction with the Garland County prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure Emley’s protection and safety and to obtain evidence against Alexander.
Alexander was out on bond at the time of his arrest Monday from an incident on Oct. 7, 2016, when Alexander allegedly tried to shoot Amy Emley’s husband, Shane Emley, at a residence at 234 Wood St., but instead shot another man, Alvin Nobles, once in the back.
Alexander had allegedly offered to pay his friend a total of $10,000 for Amy Emley’s death. During their fourth recorded conversation on Saturday, Alexander allegedly paid the man $500 toward the $10,000 and agreed to pay the balance over time after Emley was killed.
Based on that conversation and the previous three recorded conversations, a warrant was issued for Alexander’s arrest.
In the Nobles shooting in October, witnesses had identified Alexander as the shooter and described his vehicle, which was located at a residence in the 200 block of Burroughs Street. The HSPD S.W.A.T. team executed a search warrant on the residence, but Alexander was not inside.
Alexander turned himself in later that day and was charged with first-degree battery and later released on $100,000 bond.