Tucson police Sgt. Chris Chris Widmer was celebrating his wedding anniversary two years ago when he got the word — a hit man was looking for him.
Last month, during a hearing in Pima County Superior Court, Widmer recalled sitting up that night with a gun in his hand waiting for the killer, missing holidays with his extended family for fear of putting them in danger and spending months looking over his shoulder.
He wasn't alone in his fear either. His fellow officers put up security cameras in his neighborhood; his wife learned how to shoot; and his father, a former cop, secretly kept vigil night after night outside his home.
No one has made an attempt on his life, but he remains vigilant, Widmer said.
"We continue to assume the worst — that he will carry out what he started," Widmer said.
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The "he" Widmer was referring to is Nathaniel Curtis, 29, who received a 25-year prison sentence Thursday for attempted first-degree murder.
Widmer was an undercover officer with the Counter Narcotics Alliance drug task force when he bought crack cocaine from Curtis in November 2006, according to court testimony.
Curtis was arrested, posted bond and was arrested again when an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent bought more drugs from him.
A Pima County jury convicted Curtis on drug charges in November 2007, and he was sent to prison for 15.75 years.
A short time later, a man called police and told detectives a story.
The man said he had shared a cell with Curtis at the Pima County jail, and that Curtis had hired him to kill two people — a confidential informant and Widmer.
Curtis, the man said, had gone so far as to post his bail and to have his girlfriend, Rachelle Harris, give him a gun.
The man said he'd stalked the informant for a couple of days before having second thoughts and going to police.
When detectives listened in on a conversation between the man and Harris, it confirmed the murder-for-hire story, according to court testimony. Worse yet, the detectives heard Harris tell the man he didn't have to worry about Widmer anymore — Curtis had hired someone else for the job.
That was the day of Widmer's wedding anniversary.
After arresting Harris, the detectives learned a great deal more about the plot to kill Widmer.
Harris told them that after Curtis was arrested the first time, she and Curtis had followed Widmer around after Curtis spotted him Downtown and realized who he was.
In fact, had Curtis not caught a red light one day, Widmer would be dead, Harris said.
Harris pleaded guilty last December to attempted first-degree murder and attempted possession of a narcotic drug for sale. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday after apologizing profusely to the Widmer family.
Harris said she's been praying for forgiveness but knows forgiveness may not happen anytime soon.
Her attorney, Natalie Prince, said Harris was the victim of battered women's syndrome.
Curtis pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder as well. His 25-year sentence will run consecutively to his drug sentence.
Deputy Pima County Attorney Kellie Johnson said Curtis' case was unique in that there was "absolutely no mitigating factors whatsoever."
Johnson asked for the maximum sentence of 25 years, saying his actions were the result of "just pure evil."
During an aggravation hearing held last month, Widmer's father, Michael Widmer, said he didn't have the words to adequately describe what his family has been through.
Michael Widmer told Curtis that if someone were to walk through the courtroom doors and attempt to hurt him, his son would be the first person to rush to help him and he'd do so "blindly."
