Police chaplain avoids jail time for incest, murder solicitation

quote:

---

A man who previously volunteered as a police chaplain escaped jail time after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of incest in Washington County, Tennessee Criminal Court.

Anthony Padgett also pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor and violation of order of protection. Padgett was given 12 years of probation in connection with those pleas.

Washington County detectives also accused Padgett of hiring a hitman to kill the woman he's accused of sexually assaulting as a juvenile. He was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

While in jail, investigators say he offered a cellmate $1,500 up front, a vehicle, several guns and ammo, prescription medications, and a gun cleaning kit to kill the victim and her boyfriend.

Padgett wanted them to die in a car crash or any another means associated with the victim's medical condition, according to police. Padgett then offered to pay an additional $8,000 after they were dead, according to authorities.

Those charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

---