Post by Critique on Dec 30, 2006 3:39:18 GMT -5
Dec 21, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Authorities are mum on a 12-hour search this week at the home of a Bloomington police sergeant charged in four rapes dating to 2002.
About a dozen police cars parked outside Jeff Pelo's home in rural Downs during the search Tuesday and early Wednesday. The 17-year department veteran is charged with raping four women between December 2002 and January 2005.
"I don't know what they were looking for. I don't know what they found, if anything," said Bloomington police spokesman David White.
White said any evidence uncovered by the search would be forwarded to the McLean County state's attorney's office. Assistant State's Attorney Mark Messman declined comment, citing Illinois Supreme Court rules that bar him from commenting on the ongoing investigation.
"If indeed there was a search warrant executed, I can't even confirm or deny that," Messman said.
Pelo's attorney, Steve Skelton, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.
Authorities also searched Pelo's home last summer. Typically, investigators would search a home again if they had new information or were searching for something specific, White said.
Pelo, 42, was charged in July in a 35-count indictment that accuses him of assaulting three of his four alleged victims multiple times during one-night attacks, including 18 times during his last alleged attack in January 2005.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion, residential burglary, aggravated unlawful restraint and intimidation. Some of the charges carry prison sentences of up to 45 years, and prosecutors say Pelo could spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted.
Pelo is on paid administrative leave and still collecting his $81,000 annual salary. If convicted, he would automatically lose his job because felons cannot serve as police officers. He also would forfeit his police pension.
He remains in McLean County jail in lieu of $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 5.
www.examiner.com/a-468956~Authorities_mum_about_search_at_home_of_cop_charged_in_rapes.html
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Authorities are mum on a 12-hour search this week at the home of a Bloomington police sergeant charged in four rapes dating to 2002.
About a dozen police cars parked outside Jeff Pelo's home in rural Downs during the search Tuesday and early Wednesday. The 17-year department veteran is charged with raping four women between December 2002 and January 2005.
"I don't know what they were looking for. I don't know what they found, if anything," said Bloomington police spokesman David White.
White said any evidence uncovered by the search would be forwarded to the McLean County state's attorney's office. Assistant State's Attorney Mark Messman declined comment, citing Illinois Supreme Court rules that bar him from commenting on the ongoing investigation.
"If indeed there was a search warrant executed, I can't even confirm or deny that," Messman said.
Pelo's attorney, Steve Skelton, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.
Authorities also searched Pelo's home last summer. Typically, investigators would search a home again if they had new information or were searching for something specific, White said.
Pelo, 42, was charged in July in a 35-count indictment that accuses him of assaulting three of his four alleged victims multiple times during one-night attacks, including 18 times during his last alleged attack in January 2005.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion, residential burglary, aggravated unlawful restraint and intimidation. Some of the charges carry prison sentences of up to 45 years, and prosecutors say Pelo could spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted.
Pelo is on paid administrative leave and still collecting his $81,000 annual salary. If convicted, he would automatically lose his job because felons cannot serve as police officers. He also would forfeit his police pension.
He remains in McLean County jail in lieu of $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 5.
www.examiner.com/a-468956~Authorities_mum_about_search_at_home_of_cop_charged_in_rapes.html