charles waldo was arrested four years ago for mostly white collar crimes. but as waldo sat in jail, the case changed dramatically when he was indicted for allegedly trying to recruit fellow inmates to kill nine witnesses against him. now as his trial begins, this is how the prosecutor described waldo. quote, if you cross the defendant in any way, shape or form, there will be payback and a reckoning. the 39-year-old martinez man was initially arrested in 2013 or charges he committed car insurance fraud and embezzled more than $100,000 from a local hauling company. but in 2014 there were new, much more serious murder-for-hire charges. according to prosecutors, there was even a hit list with names and suggested methods, including drug overdoses, staged car accidents and robberies gone bad. >> i'm not completely innocent, but there's -- but i'm not guilty of everything that i'm charged with. >> reporter: last month waldo talked with abc 7 news in a jailhouse interview. >> i wasn't looking at a lot of time before that alleged murder conspiracy. i had no intention

they child charles waldo in the opening statement. if you cross the defendant in any way, shape or form, there will be payback and a reckoning. the 31-year-old martinez man was initially arrested in 2013 on charges that he committed car insurance fraud and embezzled $100,000 from a local hauling company. but a year later prosecutors added new charges. waldo solicited fellow inmates in the contra costa jail to murder nine witnesses in his white collar case. >> it's completely false. >> reporter: we spoke with waldo last month in a jailhouse interview. >> i wasn't looking at a lot of time before that alleged murder conspiracy scheme. i had no intention of trying to murder any witnesses. i'm looking at life. never going home. >> reporter: in his opening statement, his defense attorney told jurors the murder-for-hire case is a sham. the jail in contra costa county is effectively a rat's nest. it's loaded with informants. waldo's trial is expected to last several months. in martinez, laura anthony, abc 7 news. >>> a vow to fight today from

. >> reporter: it's a case that initially drew little attention, charles waldo was arrested four years ago for while collar crimes but the case changed dramatically when he was indicted for allegedly trying to recruit fellow inmates to kill nine witnesses against him. now as his trail begins, this is how prosecutor dominique described waldo. quote, if you cross the defendant in any way, shape or form there will be pay back and a reckoning. the 39-year-old martinez man was initially arrested in 2013 on charges he committed car insurance fraud and embezzled more than $100,000 from a local hauling company but in 2014, there were new serious murder for hire charges. according to prosecutors, there was even a hit list with names and suggested methods including drug overdose, staged car accidents, and robberies gone bad. >> i'm not completely innocent, but there is -- but i'm not guilty of everything i'm charged with. >> reporter: last month, waldo talked with abc 7 news in a jailhouse interview. >> i wasn't looking at a lot of time before that alleged murder conspiracy. i had no intentions

waldo. he seems to have been all over washington d.c. >> the wording of the question, anything improper or illegal. >> that is not good news for the clintons. charles: what do you think happens with senate. >> more and more russia talk of course. charles: a lot of the clinton information has been published. there are dots to connect that the f.b.i. should be look at? temperature. there is a lot that can be dug into there. we know about the uranium sale that could be affiliated with clinton associates. charles: there were some good moments there, we saw this in the last 8 years where republicans would call on obama officials and there is for the whole process. gowdy asked great questions. he's rapid fire. he puts on his prosecutor's hat. but nothing every comes of it. i think today fell a little flat in expectations for a lot of people. >> i agree everything fell flat today. the democrats are just trying to create more and more innuendo. this will be a nothing-burger. donald trump will make sure he gets tax reform, he overhauls obamacare, and he will be re-elected in 2020. >> likely voters think donald trump is more focused to the future than democr

charles county, 4 students who died this year. 2 were killed in a car crash friday afternoon in waldo suddenly during the school year. the syringesal tonight from 6 happen 7:00 p.m. more mild it wills today. here is veronica johnson. >> reporter: it will be a messy hair day for many of us. recycling day, might want to secure the cans. gusty, yes. temperatures in the mid 60s. arriving very rapidly today, hanging on to some of the warm air behind this morning's front. gusts could top over 35 miles an hour, the wind settles tonight, the next system for us early friday morning, not a big impact, mainly northern maryland. sunday, cold air mostly south of the area. >> reporter: on the roads for the wednesday morning commute, a tough commute around the capital beltway. clearing accident activity now in the mcclean area. going through the big picture map you can see we are in the red, especially through montgomery klain, as a matter of fact. tree down across the roadway at bell view road. trafficland cameras giving you a live view, costing 35 minutes from the springfield mixing bowl to the 14