Defense claims Gliniewicz charges are unconstitutional
A Lake County judge on Monday ordered a hearing to determine whether charges alleging Melodie Gliniewicz took part in her deceased husband's crimes are constitutional.
Defense attorney Donald Morrison claims county prosecutors continue to avoid listing the specific criminal acts they believe Melodie Gliniewicz did to be charged with conspiracy, unlawful use of charitable funds for personal gain and money laundering.
The charges stem from an investigation that found that her husband, Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, stole thousands from a police youth program before he killed himself in September 2015. Authorities say he arranged the suicide to appear as if he were killed in the line of duty, hoping it would prevent disclosure of his crimes.
Melodie Gliniewicz, 52, of Antioch Township, has pleaded not guilty.
"She doesn't know what she did," Morrison said in court Monday. "They told me she is responsible for pornography websites and dating websites. That is wrong."
To push the issue, Morrison filed a motion Monday asking a court to declare the charges against his client unconstitutionally vague. A hearing on the request will take place April 12.
Assistant Lake County States Attorney Scott Turk said the specific charges against Melodie Gliniewicz are highlighted in an FBI report already turned over to Morrison. The report specifically lists the transactions prosecutors believe she illegally performed, he said.
Melodie Gliniewicz is scheduled to go on trial May 30 on charges she helped her husband steal money earmarked for Fox Lake Explorer Post 300, a youth program founded by her husband.
Investigators claim the couple had been using money donated to the Explorer post for their own purposes. Melodie Gliniewicz served as a civilian adviser to the post, authorities said.
Money from the Explorer fund was used to pay for a trip to Hawaii, movie tickets, pornography websites, and more than 400 restaurant charges, authorities say.
Morrison has argued the charges should be dropped because Charles Gliniewicz was the only person in control of Explorer post bank accounts between 2009 and March 2015.