A former Grand Traverse and Leelanau County prosecutor is behind bars – accused of conspiring to murder another Traverse City lawyer in a murder-for-hire plot.
Attorney Clarence Gomery faces one count of solicitation for murder. Grand Traverse County alleges Gomery tried to hire a hit-man to kill attorney Christopher Cooke.
Deputies arrested Gomery early Monday morning in Leelanau County.
Sheriff Tom Bensley says investigators are now looking for a possible motive. The two attorneys did face off in a courtroom last year.
“Mr. Cooke represented a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Mr Gomery," Bensley says. "And we would guess that may be the basis for [the plot]."
The sheriff’s office learned of the alleged murder plan on Saturday, when the man Gomery is accused of trying to hire came forward.
Officials say they have recordings of Gomery discussing a “detailed” plan of how to carry out the murder.
Gomery is being held on a $5 million cash bond. He's due in court for a preliminary examination on July 28.