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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — A 66-year-old accused meth dealer allegedly tried to silence two witnesses in separate criminal cases, including a nephew he believed “ratted him out.”
Robert Hakel, a Grand Junction resident who’s been jailed in Mesa County since last March, was served Wednesday with a warrant alleging two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder, following a month’s worth of letters and personal visits at the jail with a person Hakel apparently thought was a hitman for hire.
Hakel instead allegedly plotted with an undercover officer, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
A Mesa County Sheriff’s investigator was assigned to the case after an inmate at the jail came forward on Nov. 24, claiming Hakel had offered him titles to a pair of cars and money to kill Joe Jarvis and Blaine Ellifritz.
“Hakel told the (inmate) both persons are witnesses and ‘ratted on him,’” the affidavit said.
Hakel allegedly asked the inmate if he knew anybody who could “do a hit.”
“Hakel would give him a $10,000 car if he ‘smokes my nephew’, Joe Jarvis. Hakel told the inmate Joe gave a letter to the DA and ‘ratted on him.’”
Payment for that first job was to be a 1980 Pontiac “muscle car,” while Hakel allegedly offered to buy the inmate a Jeep for killing Ellifritz.
Hakel claimed Ellifritz informed on him and stole 10 ounces of methamphetamine.
Hakel was then told “Chris,” an undercover officer who posed as a hitman, would meet him at the jail on Dec. 7. Before that, authorities snatched up Hakel’s mail — including a letter addressed to his wife.
“I may ask you to give the Firebird to someone for payment on doing me a favor. The favor will be done before I ask you,” Hakel allegedly wrote.
After an initial series of contacts, Chris sought to firm up plans in a second visit at the jail on Dec. 17.
“While Hakel was discussing his anger toward Joe, Chris said he wanted to be clear, he was planning to put two in his head and bury him in the river, Hakel said, Okay.”
“Hakel said to use a personal touch by telling Joe, ‘you (expletive) up and bet you didn’t think this could happen.’”
Hakel allegedly called the officer on Dec. 29, giving the “final green light.”
Aside from the two murders, Hakel allegedly provided addresses for local residences he wanted robbed.
Hakel allegedly sought to split proceeds with Chris from the robberies — delivering Hakel’s half to his wife. At one point, he allegedly provided the officer with a name and address of a married couple with a child “3 to 4 years old.”
“... It is suggested to hold the ‘kid’ as hostage for more money,” the affidavit said. “The items to be stolen in this robbery are guns, a coin collection, jewelry and cash.”
Authorities have alleged Hakel was a player in the area’s methamphetamine subculture. Nine people, including Hakel, were arrested in late March 2008 as Hakel allegedly sold methamphetamine out of his home.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com
Robert Hakel, a Grand Junction resident who’s been jailed in Mesa County since last March, was served Wednesday with a warrant alleging two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder, following a month’s worth of letters and personal visits at the jail with a person Hakel apparently thought was a hitman for hire.
Hakel instead allegedly plotted with an undercover officer, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
A Mesa County Sheriff’s investigator was assigned to the case after an inmate at the jail came forward on Nov. 24, claiming Hakel had offered him titles to a pair of cars and money to kill Joe Jarvis and Blaine Ellifritz.
“Hakel told the (inmate) both persons are witnesses and ‘ratted on him,’” the affidavit said.
Hakel allegedly asked the inmate if he knew anybody who could “do a hit.”
“Hakel would give him a $10,000 car if he ‘smokes my nephew’, Joe Jarvis. Hakel told the inmate Joe gave a letter to the DA and ‘ratted on him.’”
Payment for that first job was to be a 1980 Pontiac “muscle car,” while Hakel allegedly offered to buy the inmate a Jeep for killing Ellifritz.
Hakel claimed Ellifritz informed on him and stole 10 ounces of methamphetamine.
Hakel was then told “Chris,” an undercover officer who posed as a hitman, would meet him at the jail on Dec. 7. Before that, authorities snatched up Hakel’s mail — including a letter addressed to his wife.
“I may ask you to give the Firebird to someone for payment on doing me a favor. The favor will be done before I ask you,” Hakel allegedly wrote.
After an initial series of contacts, Chris sought to firm up plans in a second visit at the jail on Dec. 17.
“While Hakel was discussing his anger toward Joe, Chris said he wanted to be clear, he was planning to put two in his head and bury him in the river, Hakel said, Okay.”
“Hakel said to use a personal touch by telling Joe, ‘you (expletive) up and bet you didn’t think this could happen.’”
Hakel allegedly called the officer on Dec. 29, giving the “final green light.”
Aside from the two murders, Hakel allegedly provided addresses for local residences he wanted robbed.
Hakel allegedly sought to split proceeds with Chris from the robberies — delivering Hakel’s half to his wife. At one point, he allegedly provided the officer with a name and address of a married couple with a child “3 to 4 years old.”
“... It is suggested to hold the ‘kid’ as hostage for more money,” the affidavit said. “The items to be stolen in this robbery are guns, a coin collection, jewelry and cash.”
Authorities have alleged Hakel was a player in the area’s methamphetamine subculture. Nine people, including Hakel, were arrested in late March 2008 as Hakel allegedly sold methamphetamine out of his home.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com
