An undercover Sierra Vista cop posed as a hired killer, leading to the arrest of a former Cochise County Sheriff's deputy in connection with a murder plot, officials said.
Israel Burkholder was indicted Nov. 10 on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Corporal Tim Wachtel, a Sierra Vista Police Department spokesman.
Over the past several months, detectives had been conducting surveillance on Burkholder, who quit his job with the sheriff's department in March 2015 after he was discovered to have been using prescription painkillers while on duty.
During their surveillance, detectives used an undercover officer, who Burkholder believed was a killer for hire who would end the life of a local man in exchange for money, Wachtel said.
In his communications with the undercover officer, Burkholder made "overt acts to ensure payment" and provided information that the officer would need to know to carry out the murder, Wachtel said.
Burkholder wanted to meet the person he was conspiring with at a local convenience store, and during the meeting provided the undercover officer with the rest of the information necessary to carry out the killing, Wachtel said.
Sierra Vista police's special response team was at the convenience store during the meeting, and arrested Burkholder while he was getting ready to drive out of the parking lot.
Burkholder is being held at the Cochise County jail.
