Man sentenced in murder-for-hire case

Kim Smith

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

A Las Vegas man who still proclaims his innocence was sentenced to two to eight years in prison Thursday in connection with a murder-for-hire scheme that failed on three different occasions five years ago.

William Charles Ashcroft said he was venting when he wished psychologist Russell Hart dead on several occasions in 1997. He said he didn't realize two drug addicts would attempt to murder Hart based on his comments.

"I have no words to express the remorse I feel. I'm not that type of person," Ashcroft told District Judge John McGroarty at his sentencing hearing Thursday.

Ashcroft was sentenced on a single count of attempted murder in connection with three attempts on Hart's life in 1997. The final attempt resulted in Hart being shot in the face and the bullet narrowly missing his carotid artery and brain.

In October, Ashcroft, 52, entered the type of plea agreement that doesn't require him to admit his guilt, only that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

As a result of the plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed against Ashcroft.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael O'Callaghan said authorities believe Hart was targeted by Ashcroft because Hart learned that Ashcroft was embezzling from the apartment complex he managed for Hart.

A local television station was investigating allegations that Hart was a "slum lord," and he discovered that Ashcroft was charging rent on certain apartments and pocketing the money, O'Callaghan said. Ashcroft was never charged with embezzlement.

O'Callaghan said Ashcroft hired Todd Esposito, a former tenant, to kill Hart.

The first attempt on Hart's life was Aug. 22, 1997. Esposito and an unknown accomplice drove by Hart's residence and fired a shotgun at him, but they missed.

Days later, O'Callaghan said, Todd Esposito and Gary Wadley again went to Hart's home. This time Wadley hot-wired the ignition of Hart's vehicle to his gas tank. Hart noticed the wire before he started his car.

On Oct. 21 Wadley shot Hart in the face outside his office while Esposito acted as a lookout, O'Callaghan said. Hart survived the attack with the bullet missing his carotid artery and brain by millimeters.

"I must have had a couple of angels on my shoulders," Hart told McGroarty during the sentencing hearing.

Defense attorney Gregory Denue pointed out that Ashcroft was never charged with embezzlement. Moreover, Denue said Ashcroft had no motive to kill Hart because Hart was helping him in a child custody case.

Esposito was sentenced to a two to five-year prison sentence and Wadley 10 to 40 years.