Former Food Network Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz May Enter Plea Monday; Read The Booking Report
May 17 2010, Published 8:40 a.m. ET
Former Food Network chef/host Juan-Carlos Cruz could possibly be arraigned as early as Monday in Los Angeles for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to murder his wife, RadarOnline.com can report.
DOCUMENT: Juan-Carlos Cruz's Booking Report
If the arraignment does happen, Cruz will most likely plead not guilty.
Investigators say the celebrity TV chef approached several homeless people along the trendy Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CA. hoping to find a hit man among them. The plan backfired when the homeless men tipped off cops.
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Law enforcement launched a week-long undercover operation and arrested Cruz, 48, last Thursday at a local dog park.
Although police will not publicly comment on the identity of the intended target, sources say it was Cruz's wife -- his former high school sweetheart Jennifer Campbell.
Cruz gained fame as the host of the Food Network's Calorie Commando. In addition, he hosted Take It Off (now titled Weighing In). He was also the pastry chef at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles.
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At this time, police have not revealed a motive for the alleged crime, and if convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison.
Cruz remains in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail on $5-million bail.