A Bismarck man pleaded guilty last week to two charges related to his attempts to hire someone to kill two men.

Robert Rutherford, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening communications. Both counts are punishable by up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, $250,000 in fines and a $100 special assessment.

Rutherford was indicted in January by a grand jury on felony charges of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, causing interstate travel in the commission of murder-for-hire, using mail in the commission of murder for hire and two counts of threatening communications.

According to a plea agreement in the case, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss the remaining charges against Rutherford in exchange for the guilty pleas. They also will recommend that he be sentenced to seven years in prison and up to six years of supervised release.

Rutherford has been accused of offering an acquaintance he met while serving a prison sentence money to kill two Bismarck men. One of the men was the victim in a case where Rutherford was convicted of assault and burglary, and the other was an attorney who represented the first man at a civil trial against Rutherford.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland is slated to sentence Rutherford on the two charges on Feb. 9. He could sentence Rutherford up to the maximum of 10 years in prison.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)