SANTA MONICA -- A former TV chef suspected of recruiting homeless men in an alleged murder-for-hire plot against his wife is set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday.

Juan Carlos Cruz is expected to be arraigned on charges of soliciting to commit murder.

He was arrested last Thursday and was being held on $5 million bail.

TMZ says it obtained a series of text messages between Cruz and the homeless men he allegedly tried hiring to kill his wife. TMZ also reports that Cruz allegedly wanted the men to cut his wife's throat.

In the meantime, friends and neighbors of Cruz say they can't believe the allegations against him.

The 48-year-old Cruz formerly hosted the Food Network's "Calorie Commando."

He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of solicitation to commit murder, according to Santa Monica Police Sergeant Jay Trisler.

Co-workers and his neighbors in Westwood describe Cruz as a devout churchgoer, a community volunteer and a dedicated husband.

On Friday, May 7th, police officers were contacted by homeless men who said the suspect solicited them to commit murder. The men agreed to help officers in an investigation, in which details of the murder-for-hire method, where and when the individual was to be killed, and the terms of payment, were uncovered, Trisler said.

The victim whom Cruz intended to be murdered has been notified.

Cruz is a Knights of Columbus member who attends St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and volunteers his time at "Love 4 Paws," a program that provides animals to sick children.

Cruz's wife, Jennifer Campbell, is his high school sweetheart and works long hours as an attorney, according to neighbors.

Cruz came to the United States at age 3, the youngest of three sons of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and grew up in Arcadia.

He created the TV show, "Crusing in the Kitchen," that aired on a local California public-access station. That led to a featured appearance on the premiere season of Discovery Health Channel's "Body Challenge," on which he shed 43 pounds. He lost 15 more pounds after the show ended, according to his biography.

Cruz submitted a clip of the show to the Food Network. In 2004, the network signed him to produce the television show "Calorie Commando," in which guests challenged him to prepare their favorite meals with fewer calories while retaining the taste -- dishes included peanut butter cookies. His motto became "Keep the taste while you trim your waist."

Cruz produced 39 episodes of "Calorie Commando" before it was canceled in 2006.