A former civilian teacher at Auburn Correctional Facility pleaded guilty in Auburn City Court Thursday to soliciting an inmate to kill a 28-year-old man.

Daniel P. Crosby, 40, of Standart Woods Apartments-Apt. A-9, 2 Schwartz Drive, Auburn, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal solicitation. The crime is punishable up to one year in Cayuga County Jail.

Crosby had taught pre-GED classes at the prison since 1999.

Crosby was initially charged with second-degree criminal solicitation, a felony, but Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason decided the case should be sent to city court to be disposed of as a misdemeanor.

The charge was dropped down because "this certainly was not the most well-thought-out plan. Essentially, he was asking someone to carry something out that he had no means to do," Vargason said.

"The intended victim was not in danger of this inmate doing anything to him," Vargason added.

The March 10 solicitation did not involve a specific request for murder, but Crosby said he would like the victim to suffer and that if he disappeared it would be fine by him, Vargason said.

The name of the inmate Crosby solicited is not being released by authorities.

The intended victim's greatest concern is a permanent order of protection being issued at the time of Crosby's sentencing on Sept. 22, Vargason said.

The state Department of Correctional Services issued a lock-out order against Crosby from returning to work following his arrest in April.

Crosby had been employed with state Department of Correctional Services since November 1994.

Before starting work at the Auburn prison, he worked at the Cayuga Correctional Facility in Moravia.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net