NEWTON — Jeff Muller would've liked to have seen the Missouri man who masterminded his kidnapping four years ago get more time in prison.

But Muller, 64, who was kidnapped in 2010 in a tragic case of mistaken identity, is thrilled that the case against one of the men responsible for his botched mistaken-identity kidnapping has finally been resolved.

“It’s been a long haul, but we got (another) one over with,” said Muller, shortly after William Barger, 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday to being an accomplice in Muller’s bizarre kidnapping plot.

As part of a plea bargain deal, Barger pleaded to first-degree accomplice to kidnapping and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend a prison sentence of up to 20 years. A first-degree crime is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

“I would’ve liked to have seen him get more jail, but if it avoids a trial, I’m OK with it,” he said in a phone interview from his family-run Newton pet supply store.

Barger, of Nevada, Mo., admitted enlisting three other Missouri men to kidnap Muller from the parking lot of his store on the morning of Jan. 8, 2010 when he went to open the shop.

“Did you participate in the planning and preparation” of the kidnapping? Barger was asked by his attorney, Jeffrey Patti.

“Yes, sir,” Barger replied in a Missouri drawl, while later acknowledging that he did not directly participate in the kidnapping and never visited New Jersey until he was extradited from Missouri following his arrest.

Authorities had alleged Barger enlisted Andrew Wadel, Douglas Strangeland and Wadel’s uncle, Lonnie Swarnes, to kidnap Muller by telling them they would be considered for membership in a new Hells Angels motorcycle chapter he was forming, if they kidnapped Muller. Barger claimed he was the son of Ralph “Sonny” Barger, legendary founder of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, authorities have said.

Jeffrey Muller

Barger had hoped to recoup some of the $500,000 that was lost by Missouri businessman Roy Slates to Jeffrey Muller, a money broker from Mahwah, in a business deal. Barger and the kidnappers would get a portion of the proceeds.

The kidnapping plot went awry when the trio abducted the wrong Jeffrey Muller.

“They got the wrong guy,” Barger told Patti.

Muller escaped from his armed captors when their car broke down the next day at a convenience store 1,200 miles away in Lake Ozark, Mo. While the kidnappers waited for Barger to pick up Muller — who was repeatedly beaten and threatened during the trip — he ran away.

With Barger’s guilty plea, there are only two cases that remain in connection with the kidnapping case.

Strangeland, who allegedly directed the kidnapping in New Jersey, could go on trial as early as September, and Swarnes to expected to go on trial afterwards. Both men have rejected plea bargains that called for 23-year prison terms.

Barger is scheduled to be sentenced after the two trials.

Wadel pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2010, and is serving an 18-year prison sentence. Slates pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft by extortion on Dec. 16, 2010, and is facing up to 10 years in prison.

Muller, who has attended all of the court proceedings against his captors and can often be seen sitting at the rear of the courtroom wearing a green shirt emblazoned with the name of his business, said he plans to attend both of the upcoming trials.

“I’ve been to every one (hearing) and I won’t miss one,” he said.

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