Two Men Arrested Over Alleged Plot to Kill Three People — One Suspect Was Already Behind Bars

Authorities in Larimer County, Colorado, uncovered an alleged murder plot targeting three people connected to an existing criminal case, leading to the arrest of two men in June 2023.

According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, investigators learned that Joshua Anderson, who was already being held in jail, was allegedly coordinating a plan to kill a victim and witnesses involved in his pending criminal case. Investigators said he had communicated with people outside the jail in an effort to carry out the plan.

Anderson was awaiting prosecution for a separate 2022 case in Fort Collins. The charges in that case included attempted first-degree murder, extortion, felony menacing, child abuse and violations of a protective order.

The investigation led deputies to Jesse Mewes, 35, of Fort Collins, who was arrested on June 8, 2023. He was accused of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and a habitual criminal enhancement.

The following day, prosecutors filed additional charges against Anderson, including three counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He also faced a habitual criminal enhancement.

At the time, Mewes was held on a $250,000 bond. Anderson faced an additional $1 million bond in connection with the alleged plot, on top of bond amounts associated with his earlier case.

Captain Bobby Moll, who led the sheriff’s office investigations division, described the alleged plan as deeply disturbing and credited investigators with intervening before the intended killings could occur.

Authorities did not publicly identify the three people allegedly targeted in the plot in the initial announcement. They were described as a victim and witnesses connected to Anderson’s pending criminal case.

The arrests highlighted concerns about threats against crime victims and witnesses, particularly when an accused person is already in custody and allegedly attempts to coordinate criminal activity from behind bars.

Both men faced allegations, not findings of guilt, at the time of the announcement. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source:  cbsnews