LINCOLN — A Calhoun County man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attempting to solicit help to murder a Lincoln resident.

Brian Gauthier, 41, of Wellington is charged with criminal solicitation to murder Robert Welch.

Criminal solicitation to murder is a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to life in prison.

Lincoln police Capt. Mike Brewer said the Birmingham Police Department contacted the Lincoln Police Department Tuesday about a possible kidnapping and murder plot.

“The Birmingham investigators contacted Lincoln because the potential victim lives in Lincoln,” he said.

Brewer said Lincoln investigators spoke with Welch and the concerned citizen who reported the proposed kidnapping and murder plot.

“The citizen told us that Gauthier planned to kidnap Welch at Welch’s Birmingham business,” Brewer said. “The plan was to force Welch to his Lincoln home in order to rob him, then murder Welch and dispose of the body.”

Brewer said the Lincoln Police Department contacted the Talladega County Drug Task Force and the Talladega County District Attorney’s Office, and conducted a successful multi-agency effort with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and the Calhoun County District Attorney’s Office. All charges are pending in Calhoun County.

“We are thankful that all the contributing agencies worked together extremely well,” Brewer said. “If not for that cooperation, we might have had a much different outcome.”

Lincoln Police Chief Travis McGrady said he was pleased with the results of the multi-agency cooperative effort.

“Everyone worked together,” he said. “I am very exceptionally proud of our officers.”

Gauthier remained in the Calhoun County Jail without bond Thursday.