Christine Metter Sentencing Today

A Beachwood woman convicted of hiring a hit man to kill her ex-husband will be sentenced in Lake County Common Pleas Court today.

Christine Metter, 41, was convicted by a jury in January of conspiracy to commit murder. She faces up to 10 years in prison for the crime, but she could be sentenced to as little as probation.

Her father, Al Zombory, 77, also of Beachwood, was sentenced to nine years in prison Tuesday. He pleaded guilty shortly after his daughter's conviction and insists that she was not involved in the plot.

Metter was the sole beneficiary of her ex-husband's $1.5 million life insurance payout, which prosecutors alleged was on motive for the plan. Her ex-husband also testified that he was working to be granted custody of the couple's four children.

The conspiracy started with a Facebook chat, said witness Patrick Sabo, who called police after he said Zombory offered him $50,000 to kill Metter's ex-husband.

In the chat, which was obtained by prosecutors from Facebook, Metter complained about her ex, and Sabo said, "Why don't you save your money and hire a hit man LMAO." He said he was joking, but that Metter and her father took it seriously.

Defense attorney Michael Lear's attempt to tear down Sabo's credibility during the trial, arguing that he is motivated by money and fame, did not lead to an acquittal.

Watch Beachwood Patch for more information as it unfolds, and check here for all of the Facebook murder-for-hire coverage.

You can also follow @BeachwoodPatch on Twitter for live updates during this morning's hearing.