Gliniewicz's widow remarks on funds stolen from police
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) - The widow of a suburban Chicago police officer who killed himself told investigators her husband intended to pay back money he took from a police youth program, a prosecutors said.
The Daily Herald reported the remarks came during a court hearing Wednesday on Melodie Gliniewicz's request that a judge throw out charges against her. She's accused of being involved in her late husband's scheme to steal thousands of dollars from the Fox Lake police youth program.
Authorities allege her husband, Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, staged his September 2015 suicide to look like he was killed in the line of duty in hopes of hiding his crimes.
Melodie Gliniewicz has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, unlawful use of charitable funds for personal gain and money laundering.
Don Morrison, her attorney, has said the charges are unconstitutionally vague and that the state shouldn't be permitted to prosecute her for crimes committed by her husband.
"She told investigators that 'he' would use the (Explorer credit) card, then 'we' would pay it back," Morrison said. "The state is charging her for paying it back."
Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Scott Turk said Gliniewicz knew about her husband's unlawful use of the police account.
Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Keith Kaiser and FBI forensic accountant Margaret Skiva testified Wednesday that there isn't any evidence Melodie Gliniewicz was directly involved in any transactions involving the account between September 2008 and March 27, 2015.
Gliniewicz's trial is scheduled to begin May 30. She faces up to 7 years in prison, if convicted.
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Information from: Daily Herald, http://www.dailyherald.com