mr. gomery in a land purchase. >> reporter: police say he's seen here in better times tried to hire a hitng him $20,000 plus another thousand to buy a gun but the man he allegedly tried to solicit turned him in. >> i think god intervened to a degree in this matter and i think that also there was a very ethical person that came forward. >> had he not come forward, mr. gomery very well may have found somebody else to carry out his plan and we'd be investigating a murder. >> he has no criminal history at all. he is not a danger to others or himself. >> reporter: his former lawyer argued that the married father and grandfather is not a financial flight risk because he's declared bankruptcy. but the judge wasn't buying it setting bail at $5 million. >> i'm concerned for the safety of the public. i'm concerned for mr. cooke. >> i do believe that the right thing will occur in this case and that the system will do its job. >> reporter: he declared bankruptcy after that civil judgment against him and pleaded not guilty in this case back in court for a preliminary hearing next week. robin? we'll se