DEATH PLOT PROBE LEADS TO ARREST OF TRUCK DRIVER.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

An Antelope Valley truck driver was arrested on suspicion of hiring a tenant to kill his estranged wife and her boyfriend because he didn't want to lose property to her in a divorce settlement, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.

Martyn John Haggett, 35, was arrested after the tenant - fearful he was about to be double-crossed and killed - alerted authorities shortly after the contract was made, deputies said.

``He didn't want to lose his worldly possessions,'' Deputy Cruz Solis said of Haggett. He said the couple apparently were beginning divorce proceedings.

Haggett was taken into custody shortly after 7 p.m. Monday by detectives from the Special Investigations Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies said Haggett and his wife, who have three children, own real estate together and hold life insurance policies.

Officials said the would-be hit man, who lived in rental property owned by the Haggetts, walked into the Lancaster sheriff's station saying he felt his life was in danger. He cooperated with deputies, officials said.

Haggett ``told `the hit man' to meet him in a remote area,'' Solis said. The tenant told authorities he thought Haggett was planning to kill him, the deputy said.

Neighbors described the couple as longtime residents of the small tract of homes where they lived north of Lake Los Angeles.

``They argued a lot,'' said neighbor Scott Gordan. ``She would just leave and come back about a month later.''

Gordan said Haggett owned his own truck and worked as a free-lance truck driver.

Haggett remained Tuesday at the Lancaster sheriff's station in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder. He is expected to be arraigned Monday in Antelope Municipal Court.