A Lower Allen Township man was sentenced to four- to eight years in state prison Tuesday for attempting to hire a hitman to kill his wife.

But first, Todd G. Mattson, 35, of the 2000 block of Milltown Road, read dramatically for 15 minutes from a handwritten letter taking issue with the way prosecutors have characterized him.

"They said Heather thought she was in a loving relationship up until the last moment, and she was," he told Judge Kevin Hess.

Mattson went on to describe his duties around the house while his wife worked, including doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning and doing repairs. Heıd also have a freshly cooked meal, frequently with fresh cut flowers on the side, waiting for her when she got home, he said.

"I loved being Mr. Mom," he said, referencing the coupleıs 5-year-old daughter.

Blamed former friend

Mattson also excoriated a former friend of his who, he said, arranged a meeting between Mattson and a Cumberland County detective posing as a hired killer.

According to Mattson, former Mechanicsburg resident Steve Cupp had unexpectedly broached the subject of killing his (Mattsonıs) wife some months back.

"I said, ıNo, youıre crazy. Besides, I love Heather,ı" Mattson said, eliciting no reaction from his estranged wife sitting a short distance away in the Cumberland County courtroom.

But after Cupp kept pushing the subject, Mattson agreed, saying it was a way to "buy myself some time to figure out what to do."

Even while being driven by Cupp to a Harrisburg Pike hotel in October, Mattson said he wasnıt planning on ever paying the $5,000 fee for the contract or to provide a picture of his wife.

"I canıt describe the fear of sitting in front of a supposedly professional hitman who had killed over two dozen people," he told Judge Hess. "How could I lie to him and not answer his questions?"

Mattson said he asked for his wifeıs death in order to stall the hitman.

Cupp is serving a 1 1/2- to 5-year sentence for four felony drug convictions at the State Correctional Institute at Frackville, court records say. His sentencing was delayed once so that he could assist prosecutors in this investigation and the sentencing judge specifically referred to his cooperation, Cuppıs attorney said when reached by phone.

Judge amazed

At the end of Mattsonıs letter, Judge Hess stared at Mattson in disbelief.

"Do you realize what youıve just done?" he asked him, pointing out that his letter contradicted a prior guilty plea defining murder solicitation as being done "with the intent of promoting or facilitating" anotherıs death.

Hess called both attorneys and Mattson into his chambers to further discuss the matter.

It wasnıt the first time Mattsonıs sentencing was delayed.

Already delayed once

Hess tried to sentence him two weeks earlier, but continued the hearing after being presented with a courtroom full of Mattson supporters to vouch for the 100-plus character letters he received.

The friends and family of Heather Mattson, estranged wife and the near victim in the plot, also wrote to Hess demanding a strict sentence.

Heather Mattson even addressed Hess at the time, saying she would live in fear for the rest of her life because of the attempted murder contract.

Hess heard both sides, then told the entire courtroom to come back in two weeks so that he could review the surveillance videotape of Todd Mattson discussing the contract details with an undercover detective.

Sentence meted out

After a short recess in Tuesdayıs sentencing hearing, Mattson and attorneys for both sides returned.

Hess said he wasnıt comfortable with the plea, but that both sides had told him they wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible. In between fits of uncontrollable shaking and tears, Mattson told Hess he admitted to the full offense as outlined by prosecutors.

Hess, in turn, sentenced Mattson to the lightest sentence in a mitigated range of recommended punishments.