Widow of disgraced Fox Lake police lieutenant faces gets 24 months probation in embezzlement case

Melodie Gliniewicz pleaded responsible in February, admitting she took cash from a police youth explorers program.

“There is no query as to the defendant’s guilt as to the felony that has been charged right here,” Choose James Booras mentioned.

WATCH | Melodie Gliniewicz speaks at sentencing listening to

Gliniewicz additionally was given the potential for 90 days in jail. The choose mentioned the jail time would solely be invoked if she violates the phrases of her probation.

“I did not know my husband was co-mingling the funds and I by no means knew the total quantity he was co-mingling till after his demise,” Melodie Gliniewicz informed the courtroom Tuesday.

In 2015, prosecutors mentioned her husband, Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, staged his suicide to make it appear to be a murder to cowl up the embezzlement. The cash was allegedly used on issues like film tickets, eating places, holidays and fitness center memberships.

“I wish to make it clear, I by no means took a cent from the explorer fund, it doesn’t matter what’s been reported,” Gliniewicz mentioned in an emotional assertion that capped off the listening to.

Gliniewicz was charged in 2016 with 11 felony counts of cash laundering and utilizing charitable funds for private use. Her responsible plea resulted in all different costs being dropped, and assured she wouldn’t have to face trial.

Through the listening to, a number of witnesses have been known as on either side. A 26-minute video interrogation of Melodie Gliniewicz, achieved shortly after her husband’s demise, was additionally performed. In it, she admits he took cash from the Youth Explorer’s program, however insisting these funds, have been all the time paid again.

“Folks wish to go, ‘That is embezzling funds.’ No, not once you pay it again,” Gliniewicz was heard saying within the video. “Each time he borrowed cash he’d let me know, and I would write it down.”

Prosecutors known as a former district govt with the Boy Scouts of America, who additionally oversaw a Fox Lake Police Explorer put up.

He was requested a number of questions on his interactions with Lt. Gliniewicz, who headed the put up.

And he recalled a name he received from Melodie Gliniewicz in August of 2015 wherein she was pleading with him to maneuver the put up’s constitution to the American Legion as a result of it was in jeopardy.

“She begged and pleaded with me to maneuver that constitution to the American Legion. That explorer put up meant every part to Joe, and he did not wish to lose it,” William Peppler mentioned. “Principally, I hate to make use of the phrase begging, however pleading to get that achieved to save lots of that put up as a result of she was very afraid, Joe was very afraid, that town was going to dissolve that program.”

Prosecutors additionally introduced in a forensic accountant to point out how beginning in 2009, tens of 1000’s of {dollars} have been taken from a Youth Explorers checking account to pay for issues like a visit to Hawaii, fitness center memberships, eating places, and even pornography.

However the accountant mentioned there was by no means a transparent hyperlink that Melodie Gliniewicz had been instantly answerable for any of the transactions.

Gliniewicz’s protection legal professional spoke in February when she pleaded responsible to at least one depend of misleading practices for her half in her husband’s embezzlement scheme.

“She feels very strongly really that she is just not culpable; nevertheless, she took duty for her actions to place this behind her,” legal professional Don Morrison mentioned.

Prosecutors interesting to permit texts, emails between ex-Fox Lake police lieutenant, widow in court docket

Prosecutors had mentioned publicly they have been searching for probation, but in addition requested for a felony conviction on her file.

“This case from 2015 has lastly ended with the general public studying about Joe and Melodie’s monetary crimes,” Lake County State’s Legal professional Eric Rinehart mentioned. “She mentioned she was responsible and that public acknowledgment together with profitable monitoring from our felony probation unit will defend our neighborhood and stop her from financially deceiving others once more. We’ll nonetheless have to attend to see if she is absolutely rehabilitated and whether or not she will be able to adjust to the court docket’s orders. However for right now, we all know that folks perceive they can’t misuse charitable funds in Lake County with out penalties.”

The choose additionally granted Gliniewicz’ attorneys’ request for second-chance probation, which is just supplied to first-time offenders. If she satisfies the situations of her probation, the felony conviction shall be cleared from her file – probably making her eligible to gather her husband’s pension.