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HEBER CITY — A Park City man accused of trying to hire an undercover officer to kill his ex-wife's boyfriend has entered a no-contest plea, resolving the criminal case against him.
Dustin Wade Ruffino, 45, was initially charged in 4th District Court with criminal solicitation, a first-degree felony. Last week, he entered a no-contest plea to a reduced charge of attempted criminal solicitation, a second-degree felony, according to court records.
The case against Ruffino began in early January when a Wasatch County sheriff's lieutenant — working undercover and with the assistance of a confidential informant — bought methamphetamine from Ruffino, charging documents state.
During the drug deal, the informant said Ruffino wanted to hire someone to kill a man who was dating Ruffino's ex-wife. The lieutenant said when he asked Ruffino about the situation, he was told the man was in a sexual relationship with his wife and he said: "I don't like it and I want him dealt with."
In charging documents, the lieutenant said he pressed Ruffino to define what he meant by "dealt with" and was told, "I want a final resolution, meaning I want him gone." Ruffino then provided the undercover officer with the man's name, physical description and address, court records show.
After the initial meeting, the lieutenant called a sergeant working for a sheriff's office on the Wasatch Front. The sergeant agreed to go undercover as "the potential hitman," according to charging documents.
When the sergeant met Ruffino, their one-hour conversation began with Ruffino "passionately describing the situation" with his ex-wife, her boyfriend and himself, the sergeant wrote. The sergeant said he asked Ruffino how he wanted the situation resolved, Ruffino responded, "I want him gone."
The sergeant said he had Ruffino clarify that "gone" meant "dead," and told him the job would cost $1,500. Ruffino offered him $100 worth of tools as a down payment, the charges state. Then he took the sergeant to the house where the intended victim lived before the men parted ways, according to court records.
Ruffino faces a possible term of one to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 21.
