TV chef pleads no contest in hitman plot

LOS ANGELES Juan Carlos Cruz, 48, hosted the show "Calorie Commando," which ended in 2006. He faces up to nine years in prison when he is sentenced in December.

He had an attempted murder charge in the case thrown out Tuesday after his plea.

Cruz was arrested in May after a homeless man told police that he was hired to kill Cruz's wife but refused.

According to prosecutors, police set up a sting operation where Cruz was seen arranging the killing with several homeless men.

The Associated Press Contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.