Ontario man takes plea deal in murder solicitation case

An Ontario man charged with soliciting a co-worker to kill his ex-girlfriend has been released from jail after accepting a plea bargain from prosecutors this week.

Jason Eli Corlew, 28, pleaded guilty Tuesday in West Valley Superior Court to a felony count of solicitation to commit murder and a felony count of vandalism.

Corlew was released from a county jail facility after pleading guilty to the counts. He had been in custody since his arrest in May 2008.

Prosecutors accused Corlew of sending a series of text messages to a woman he worked with at a Lowe's home-improvement store, offering the woman money to kill his ex-girlfriend Nancy Stojsich, Stojsich's young son, and a man Corlew believed was Stojsich's new boyfriend.

With his guilty pleas, Corlew will be placed on five years' probation. If he violates his probation, he could be sent to state prison to serve a six-year sentence.

Corlew will be required to attend domestic-violence classes. He was ordered to stay away from victims and witnesses from the case for 10 years.

The vandalism charge stemmed from a May 1, 2008 incident when Corlew visited his Stojsich's home in Rancho Cucamonga to pick up some of his belongings.

The man believed by Corlew to be Stojsich's new boyfriend was visiting the home.

Corlew smashed some of the man's car windows with a golf club, according to witnesses who testified at a preliminary hearing in November.

A week after the golf club incident, Corlew sent his co-worker a series of text messages detailing his wishes to have Stojsich killed.

Corlew told the co-worker, a small-framed woman in her early 20s, to force Stojsich to watch as the woman shot and killed Stojsich's son and new boyfriend.

Corlew then said he wanted the co-worker to shoot and kill Stojsich, then carve a street-gang moniker into her stomach with a knife in order to confuse police about the identity of the killer.

The co-worker contacted police about Corlew's request.

Hal Smith, Corlew's defense attorney, said in November that Corlew was merely "blowing off hot air" and didn't intend to have the killings carried out.

"His crime is having a big mouth," Smith said in November.