31-year-old Jason Ray Gardner sobbed as he told a Gibson County judge why he tried to hire a man who turned out to be an undercover police officer to shoot his ex-wife, Teresa Gardner.

But a detective testified at Thursday’s sentencing hearing that the Princeton man was cold, heartless and direct when he made the deal in parking lot this spring.

Gardner pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy. He and his wife, 42-year-old Pamela Gardner of Princeton were arrested in April on the same felony charge. Her case is pending.