Charges: Wheaton man threatened girlfriend informant

A Wheaton man with 18 felony convictions was jailed without bail Wednesday on charges he threatened his girlfriend because she was a confidential informant against him in a burglary case.

John R. Wiemann, 50, of the 100 block of North Main Street, was charged with intimidating and communicating with a witness.

DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Muntz said Wiemann told his girlfriend Tuesday she “deserved to die” after he learned she was cooperating with authorities in his earlier burglary case and that his application to drug court was denied.

“That's not true, your honor,” Wiemann interjected during bond court.

Authorities were unsure how Wiemann learned the identity of the confidential informant. Muntz said Wiemann made incriminating statements but “denied he threatened to kill her.”

Muntz said Wiemann's prior felony convictions include drug dealing, retail theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary. The “abysmal” record dates to 1978, Muntz said.

In court, Wiemann told Judge Michael Wolfe he knew all along that his live-in girlfriend was cooperating with authorities in the burglary case.

“I knew she was the confidential informant throughout the entire time,” he said. “She's my girlfriend to this day. This woman is going to drop these charges.”

Wiemann also said he has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and requested mood elevators.

“That's pretty much why I'm here,” he said. “I wasn't stable.”

Wolfe ordered Wiemann held without bail, pending a Thursday court appearance before Judge Robert Kleeman.

Court records show Wiemann was one of two men charged in a November 2010 burglary at the Route 59 train station in Aurora.