Lake County judge extends gag order in Gliniewicz case
A Lake County judge extended the legal gag order preventing the release of any sensitive information or videos involving Melodie Gliniewicz's criminal case.
Judge James Booras made it clear Tuesday that no one should release materials at any non-trial hearing until her criminal trial has concluded. That broader protective order could delay Melodie Gliniewicz obtaining her husband's police pension, officials said.
Gliniewicz, 53, of Antioch Township, filed paperwork in 2016 to obtain her late husband's police pension, which potentially is worth between $50,000 and $70,000 annually. Fox Lake officials have fought the amount of money the village is expected to pay to her.
Booras' original protective order was aimed at preventing too much of the case from being released in the media.
Melodie Gliniewicz is scheduled to go to trial July 1 on allegations she helped her husband - Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz - misuse thousands of dollars of Fox Lake Police Explorer youth program funds before he killed himself in 2015.
She is charged with unlawful use of charitable funds, conspiracy and money laundering. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
The charges surfaced after Joe Gliniewicz was found shot to death in a secluded area of Fox Lake on Sept. 1, 2015. Investigators initially believed he died in the line of duty, but later determined he killed himself and made it appear as if he'd been gunned down.
Investigators believe he took his own life to cover up the embezzlement. Authorities say the couple used Explorer funds to pay for a trip to Hawaii, movie tickets and restaurant charges.
On Tuesday, Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue and defense attorney Don Morrison were expected to argue whether text messages sent between Melodie Gliniewicz and her husband should be allowed as evidence at trial. However, that issue was delayed until March 21 because of problems with getting the cellphone data.