Chris's Crime Forum

Drew Peterson makes bail on gun rap

BOLINGBROOK, Illinois (AP) -- Former police Sgt. Drew Peterson turned himself in Wednesday on a weapons charge unrelated to the disappearance of his wife, a high-profile case in which he has been named as a suspect.

Peterson turned himself in at the Bolingbrook Police Department, where he once worked, and was taken to the Will County jail.

An adult son posted 10 percent of a $75,000 bond to secure his release pending trial, Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky said.

Peterson left jail without commenting.

The arrest warrant had been issued Tuesday. Brodsky said the arrest was part of an effort by state police to harass Peterson.

"Any inconvenience they can cause him, so much the better," Brodsky said as he waited outside the jail. "They might believe it's a tactic to shake him up."

The gun, an illegal rifle, was one of 11 seized during a search of Peterson's suburban Chicago home November 1, shortly after Stacy Peterson disappeared in late October. Authorities say the rifle barrel is too short under Illinois law.

Brodsky said that Peterson, now retired, was still a police officer when the weapon was seized and that officers are exempt from the length provision of the law.

Will County State's Attorney spokesman Chuck Pelkie would not say whether police are exempt from the law, but said the charge against Peterson is valid and appropriate.

"An illegal weapon might be put back on the street and we can't let that happen," Pelkie said.

Illinois State Police Sgt. Thomas Burek denied that the charge was an attempt to harass Peterson.

The investigation into Stacy Peterson's disappearance has drawn worldwide media attention. Authorities have said they believe she is dead, and extensive searches have been conducted in forests, marshes, lakes and other areas in suburban Chicago.

Police are also investigating the death of Drew Peterson's previous, third wife, Kathleen Savio. She was found dead in a bathtub in 2004. Her death was initially ruled an accident.

After Stacy Peterson disappeared, Savio's body was exhumed and an autopsy determined she was the victim of a homicide. Burek said both investigations are "going well."

"We're moving methodically," Burek said. "We're confident that (the investigations) will result in an arrest."

The felony gun charge, unlawful use of a weapon, carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.

Peterson has been trying for months to persuade a judge to order the Illinois State Police to return the seized weapons. The judge already ordered police to return Peterson's vehicles and other belongings.

A court hearing was scheduled for Thursday on a proposal from Brodsky that ownership of the guns be transferred from Peterson to his adult son.

LINK

Drew Peterson stepdaughter says he physically, mentally abused her.
he stepdaughter of Drew Peterson says she suffered years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of Drew Peterson and believes "anything is possible with him."

Lisa Ward, daughter of Peterson's second wife, Vicky Connolly, told "Good Morning America" on Monday she is writing a book about the 10 years she spent under Peterson's roof. She said they were filled with physical, mental and emotional abuse that ended only when Connolly confronted him about cheating.

"I always thought he was a jerk," Ward told the show.

Reached for comment, Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky denied that his client ever abused his stepdaughter.

"He doesn't question it, he denies it. It's clear that it never happened," Brodsky said Monday night.

Peterson, 55, has been charged in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and is a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 2762.story

Poor Drew....

Drew Peterson suing JP Morgan Chase

Drew Peterson, accused of killing his third wife, sued JP Morgan Chase in federal court late Monday, accusing the bank of illegally cutting off a sizable home equity credit line.

The suit claims in May 2005, Peterson received a home equity credit line from Chase for $220,000. The credit line — which the former Bolingbrook cop now wants to use to post part of his bond, pay his attorneys and hire expert witnesses — was suspended by the bank in May 2009.

The bank cited “imprisonment” as the cause of the suspension, the suit said.

“If he doesn’t get the money and his assets are frozen he’ll have to petition the court to allow him to use tax money to be able to hire all these expensive expert witnesses,” said Walter Maksym, who is representing Peterson in the suit. “Taxpayers are already paying for the prosecution. He’s up against he might of the state and now his major asset is not accessible to him.”

Maksym said Peterson’s annual income of nearly $109,000 is more than he was earning when he applied for the credit line.

Peterson is currently receiving $6,067.71 monthly from his Bolingbrook police pension and $2,758 monthly from Social Security, the suit said.

The suit claims Chase violated the truth-in-lending act, breached its contract with Peterson and violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, among other charges. The suit is asking for the home equity line of credit and damages if his credit is not restored.

“They’ve slandered his credit” so that Peterson can’t get credit from another bank, Maksym said. “If he gets convicted because they can’t get his assets they [Chase] might be on the hook for that.”

A Chase spokesperson declined comment.

Peterson is currently being held on a $20 million bond in Will County on charges that he killed his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004. Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, has been missing since October 2007.

Maksym said using your home’s equity as bond is part of the reason to have a home equity credit line.

“Remember ‘Goodfellas’ when Lorraine Bracco puts up her mother’s house for Ray Liotta?” he said. “It’s a classic thing.” LOL

http://www.suntimes.com/news/peterson/1 ... 09.article