William Barger — the man who helped orchestrate the mistaken-identity kidnapping of a Newton pet store owner — has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison, the New Jersey Herald reports.

Barger pleaded guilty to first-degree accomplice liability last year, admitting he'd conspired with four other people to kidnap a Bergen County man named Jeffrey Mulleranother accomplice, Roy Slates, complained swindled him out of $500,000 in a land deal. Slates pleaded guilty to his role in 2010 and awaits sentencing.

But when a trio of men tried to kidnap Muller, they accidentally picked up a Newton pet store owner with the same name. They zapped Muller with a stun gun and jammed him into trunk of their car, authorities have said — he escaped during a 1,200-mile ride to Missouri.

Two of the three men accused of carrying out the kidnapping have pleaded guilty; a third awaits trial.

Louis C. Hochman is digital managing editor for NJ1015.com. Reach him at louis.hochman@townsquaremedia.com or on Twitter @LouisCHochman.

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