A Kalispell man sentenced less than two weeks ago for felony criminal endangerment is now accused of trying to hire his cellmate to murder his ex-wife and a victim advocate.

Matthew Heuer, 38, has been charged with felony solicitation of deliberate homicide.

For the endangerment crime, Heuer was sentenced Feb. 13 to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections followed by five years of probation. He started an argument with another man, then fired a single shot from a revolver at the ground between the two.

Just four days after that sentencing, on Heuer’s birthday, his cellmate at the Flathead County Detention Center told detention staffers that Heuer had asked him to kill his ex-wife and a Flathead County victim advocate.

According to a court document, the cellmate said Heuer woke him up one night and asked him to kill the two women in exchange for a Toyota pickup truck with a clean title as well as some cash.

After a search warrant was issued, the cellmate wore a recording and transmitting device while having another conversation with Heuer. The two spoke for half an hour with Heuer allegedly describing in detail how the cellmate should kill his ex-wife and that he also wanted the other woman killed.

Heuer allegedly said his fiancee would give the cellmate the pickup truck when he was released from jail.

A deputy subsequently listened in on jail conversations between Heuer and his fiancee.  Heuer allegedly told her to give the truck to a “lady” when she called, referring to his cellmate’s girlfriend.

During another recorded conversation between Heuer and his cellmate on Feb. 26, Heuer reportedly confirmed the plans and said they would by finalized once they both were out of the detention center.

The pair had only been cellmates since Heuer’s Feb. 13 sentencing.

If convicted of solicitation of deliberate homicide, Heuer faces between 10 years and 100 years or life in the Montana State Prison. Because he already had been sentenced in his prior case, Heuer’s sentence in that case could also be revoked.

A second charge of felony assault with a weapon had been dismissed as part of a plea deal.

An arraignment hearing for the new case has been set for March 28, and bond has been set at $100,000.

Heuer is currently being held in the county jail.  

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].