Florida authorities say that a man accused of molesting a young child tried to have her and witnesses killed by offering what he thought was a hitman $15,000 and a sports car.

Click 2 Houston reports that while in the Polk County jail on child sexual assault charges, 26-year-old Robert Palmer allegedly asked another inmate if he knew anyone willing to kill a young girl and her family, then burn down their home. Apparently, the suspect was reportedly trying to find a way to silence them so they couldn’t testify against him. The other inmate reported the request to police.

“Palmer told the cellmate that he didn’t want his intended victims to come to court, and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison,” sheriff’s spokesman Brian Bruchey said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The inmate who reported Palmer’s request also turned in a hand-drawn map the suspect created, which led to the victim’s home. Palmer later hired the undercover detective sent in by Polk County authorities to pose as someone interested in taking the suspect up on his offer. Palmer is now more charges, including solicitation to commit murder and arson.

“Just when you think this man can’t get any lower, after being arrested for doing horrible things to a child, now he’s trying to hire someone to kill her and the witnesses,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

In 2013, a little girl reported that she woke up to Palmer’s hands down her underwear. She was under 12 years of age when the alleged incident occurred. Palmer bailed of jail on child molestation charges, but while awaiting trial, he was arrested again in September when he reportedly attacked a police officer. He’s been behind bars since.

The story is still developing. Check back with CrimeOnline for additional details.

[Feature Photo: Robert Palmer/Polk County Sheriff’s Office]