(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man has been sentenced for trying to hire a hitman to kill the mother of his children and her new boyfriend.

Daniel Shaffer was given a 21 year prison sentence.  A La Porte Circuit Court jury in August found him guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.  Authorities said the 47 year old Shaffer was in the La Porte County Jail in 2023 on auto theft related allegations when he tried to hiring a hitman through an inmate he thought could make arrangements for that to happen.

The investigation shows Shaffer was involved in a child custody dispute and wanted the mother and her new boyfriend killed before the case was decided. His alleged plan was exposed before it could be carried out, though, with help from undercover officers inside the jail acting on a tip.  Shaffer could have received an up to 30 year sentence on each count.