(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man has been convicted of attempting to hire a hit man to murder the mother of his children and her boyfriend.

 

Daniel Shaffer, 47, was found guilty Thursday by a La Porte Circuit Court jury on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

 

The jury also ruled him to be not guilty on two counts of attempted murder.

 

Authorities said Shaffer was in the La Porte County Jail in 2023 on auto theft related allegations when he tried to hire a hitman to murder the mother of his children and her boyfriend.

 

His alleged plan was exposed before it could be carried out, though, with help from undercover officers inside the jail acting on a tip.

 

“While the jury did not convict on all charges presented at trial, the State of Indiana presented the evidence and met our burden of proof at trial,” said La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan.

 

County prosecutors in Indiana are employees of the state.

 

Shaffer faces 10 to 30 years on each of the Level 2 felony counts.  A sentencing date has not been set.