PERRY COUNTY — A 50-year-old inmate in the Illinois Department of Corrections has been charged in Perry County Court with allegedly trying to hire someone to kill his ex-wife.

Perry County State’s Attorney Office charged Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) inmate Jon Mettler last week with solicitation of murder for hire and solicitation of murder, for allegedly trying to hire another person to execute his ex-wife.  

The charges result from an investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigations.  Both charges are Class X Felonies with solicitation of murder carrying a 15-30 year sentence and solicitation of murder for hire carrying a 20-40 year sentence.

Mettler is currently serving a 15 year sentence at Menard Correctional Center for residential burglary.  Mettler was housed in the Pickneyville Correctional Center at the time of the offenses.  He is scheduled to appear before a Perry County judge on December 1, 2015, at 10 a.m.