Woman accused of hiring hitman to kill former son-in-law seeks release

SANDUSKY — A Milan woman charged for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill her former son-in-law asked a federal court to release her before her sentencing next year.Sandra Haughawout, 70, pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. Haughawout's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 4, and she faces up to 20 years in prison.Haughawout is accused of paying $8,000 to a federal agent posing as a hitman to kill her former son-in-law amid an apparent child custody dispute between him and her daughter. She was arrested in June.Following a hearing in the U.S. District Court in Toledo on Dec. 6, Haughawout's attorney, Dave Klucas, of Toledo, filed a motion and supporting memorandum to have Haughawout released from a Napoleon, Ohio, detention facility prior to her sentencing.Klucas wrote that Haughawout wants to be with her family for the holidays, and noted that the estimated prison sentence is "likely a life sentence.""She does not deserve to die in prison," he wrote.Klucas argued in his motion that Haughawout should be released with these stipulations:• She would be placed on electronic monitoring and have curfew and home confinement restrictions• She would post a $300,000 bond• She will complete a mental health assessment• She would have no contact with the victimU.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman countered with a memorandum pointing to the seriousness of the crime and Haughawout's alleged lack of remorse."She told FBI agents that she was not sorry for what she did (and) she believes the victim is 'Satan,'" Tangeman wrote. "She (said she) hated the (expletive) and wished he was dead."Tangeman wrote Haughawout asked the undercover hitman for the shell casing of the bullet used to kill the would-be victim, which Tangeman claimed was a request for "some kind of sick souvenir."The case is being heard in Judge James Carr's court. It's not clear when Carr will rule on Klucas' motion.Reach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSandra Lee Haughawout