Informant: Lake Co. suspect wanted cop 'taken care of'

A former Lake County jail inmate testified Tuesday that Abdul Love made no secret of his plans to escape a long prison sentence for drug possession.

Love, 29, wanted two key witnesses against him in the drug case killed, Charles Newcomb testified, and was willing to pay to have it done.

Love, of Carbondale, is on trial before Circuit Judge Fred Foreman for solicitation of murder for hire. He faces 20 to 40 years in prison if convicted.

Newcomb, formerly of Waukegan but now in federal custody on drug charges, was in the county jail Oct. 5, 2005 when Love and another man were arrested with more than six pounds of cocaine.

Newcomb said Tuesday that Love became angry that his co-defendant, Michael Nelson, 33, of North Chicago, had posted bond but would not put up the cash to get Love out of jail.

Love decided Nelson must be a police informant and had set up the drug arrest by Waukegan police, who charged Nelson in the case only to conceal his role, Newcomb said. He said Love was also aware Waukegan police officer Dominic Cappelluti played a major role in the arrest.

Newcomb said Love asked him to recruit someone to handle both of his biggest problems.

"He said he wanted Nelson killed first, and asked me if I knew someone who would do it," Newcomb said. "Then he said he wanted Cappelluti taken care of so that he would not come to court."

Newcomb testified he told Love his cousin would be willing to kill the two men. He told Love to write a letter detailing his desires, Newcomb would mail it to his cousin.

Newcomb said he instead took the letter to his lawyer, who contacted prosecutors.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said an undercover state police officer was sent to the jail to meet with Love, and that officer recorded more than an hour's worth of Love's discussion of the plot.

The officer will testify later in the trial, Hoffert said.

Defense attorney Ian Kasper of Waukegan claims Love was manipulated by Newcomb and the officer, and his client had no desire to have anyone killed.

Kasper had police officers testify Tuesday that eight officers were involved in the arrest of Love and Nelson, and Cappelluti did not play a major role in the case.

Testimony is expected to continue today.