Robert H. Barnett
A 70-year-old man accused of trying to contract a murder allegedly told an undercover federal agent that he wanted the testicles, eyeballs and thumbs of his intended victim.
Investigators say Robert Barnett of Magoffin County tried to arrange the murder of a man who owed him money in Huntington, W.Va.
During a detention hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Lexington, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent laid out the case against Barnett.
Special Agent Jesse Hooker said Barnett gave him a machine gun with a silencer and a .22-caliber pistol to be shot at the victim’s head at close range to ensure death.
Barnett also allegedly said he planned to have other people either kidnapped or killed, including a doctor in Columbia, Md., who used to practice in Paintsville, and four people in Salyersville.
Hooker posed as a hit man from Reno, Nev., when he met Barnett at a Mount Sterling motel. When Barnett requested the body parts be brought to him, the agent said he could bring the body parts, but it would probably kill the victim.
Barnett then allegedly said he preferred to not have the man killed, but he understood.
“‘Do what you have to do. Leave him laying on the floor,’” Hooker recalled Barnett saying.
Barnett was to pay $10,000 for the hit — $1,000 of which would go toward the purchase of the machine gun.
Agents arrested Barnett March 6 outside a truck and supply store in Salyersville.
During Thursday’s hearing, Barnett’s attorney, Cullen Gault, argued that his client should be released on bond. Gault said Barnett is a longtime resident and family man in Salyersville, and, aside from a “blip on the radar screen,” he had a clean record.
That blip was from the early 1980s, when Barnett was tried on charges that he mailed a bomb to a man, who lost his legs and part of a hand when the bomb exploded. Barnett was acquitted of the crime.
The judge decided against that request and ordered that Barnett remain in the Fayette jail.
Gault said the agent’s testimony was only the government’s side of the story.
“We’ll tell ours through the court system,” he said. Gault declined to elaborate, and several family members declined to comment afterward.
Wow! What a freak! Put him in solitary confinement at the pen, not in general population at the detention center!
God bless law enforcement. We don’t need this kind of guy on the street.
Seems this mam sure wanted some revenge, and testicles,eyeballs,and thumbs to prove it! Our population has gone insane. How many people carry machine guns? or carry the surgical equipment to cut off a man’s male parts and eyeballs, thumbs GROSS Yes sir that would leave him laying on the floor. Why didn’t he just say shoot him until he has nothing left that might fall off or out? Weird person. Lock him up and throw away all the criminal mind books restrict his television time also. Maybe you can use his money to get him some mental help.
Dang, can’t get a real hit man any more. Are all the special agents and law inforcement pertending to be hit men? They should be out fighting real crime, drugs, terroist etc. There is an old saying in the mountains, some people need killing.
THE ATF are the freaks
Ransoml, you are right and it appears that the man who needs killing is Mr. Barnett
Wow! Im glad I didnt owe Robert any money!!! I borrowed his mower once,,but took it back full of gas!! I guess its a good thing, huh? lol
I lived in Magoffin,for 7 yrs. I had 45,000.00 cash stole from me, I still have the jury in my closet nothing ever done,its who you know,and yea people set you up all right they do the unthinkable in Magoffin,sad thing is they get away with it. Set up in Magoffin,is called taken people out,that is if your not family! Magoffin owe me alot more then 45,000.00 That was my lifes savings. Whats wrong with people,and our court system,Guess its who you know,People conspire against everyone,The sad news is they get away with it! My trial will never Happen! conspired by 9 people, with burden of proof, Courts are un just,its who you know, even though,its never made it to trial, I dont hate people, but I do think I should have at least had a trail, to get my money, that was stole from me,along with land! lOGGED IN PIKEVILLE FEDERAL COURT, This comment, is being swept under the rugg, just like the case was, no wonder people commit such crimes, You have to do something horrific,or horrible to be heard! That is sad!