http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1081664,boling30.article

Former cop, a suspect in wife Stacy
Peterson's diseappearance, couldn't get felony weapons charge dismissed

July 30, 2008

By DANIEL ROZEK Staff Reporter

A Will County judge refused today to throw out a felony weapons charge that was filed in May against former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson.

Judge Richard Schoenstedt rejected an argument by Peterson’s attorneys that federal law allows the retired cop to own the assault rifle that prompted his arrest.

The ruling means Will County prosecutors can proceed with their criminal case against Peterson, who faces a maximum five-year prison sentence if he’s convicted of possessing an AR-15 rifle with an illegally short barrel.

After Peterson’s arrest, Will County prosecutors filed a second weapons charge against him, alleging he illegally transferred the assault rifle to his adult son, Steve. Schoenstedt’s ruling means that charge also will proceed against Peterson.

Those are the only charges that have been filed against the 54-year-old Peterson, but authorities have called him a suspect in the October 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.

Authorities also have reopened their investigation into the 2004 drowning death of Peterson’s third wife, Kathleen Savio. Her death, which initially was ruled an accident, was reclassified a murder following Stacy Peterson’s disappearance.

As a result of those investigations, the Illinois State Police seized the assault rifle last November during a search of Peterson’s Bolingbrook home. But it wasn’t until May that prosecutors filed the felony weapons charge against Peterson, contending the barrel of the AR-15 is shorter than the 16-inch limit set by law.

Peterson attorneys Joel Brodsky and Andrew Abood, argued earlier that a federal law allows police officers across the nation to own and carry such weapons, if state laws don’t. Prosecutors disputed that, arguing that the federal law only allows police officers to carry concealed handguns.

http://www.nbc5.com/news/17036876/detail.html?dl=mainclick

Back To Court For Drew Peterson
Gun Charges Still Hold

POSTED: 9:34 am CDT July 30, 2008
UPDATED: 9:58 am CDT July 30, 2008


JOLIET, Ill. -- Gun charges still hold for former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson after an appearance in court Wednesday. A Will County judge refused to throw out the gun charges against him.

A grand jury indicted Peterson on two felonies related to a semiautomatic rifle seized by authorities investigating the disappearance of his wife, Stacy. Authorities contend Peterson possessed an assault rifle with a barrel shorter than allowed by law.


Speaking to reporters as he left his house on his way to court, Peterson said he had the weapon in question for one reason: "To protect the people of Bolingbrook."

NBC5's Kim Vatis said Peterson referred to the criminal charges as "kind of sad," convinced that they are "an attempt by state police to rattle me."

Peterson said that if he ultimately wins in court and gets the sawed-off semi-automatic assault rifle back, he will give it to his son, Steve, "like all the other guns. "

He said if he loses, he said he will take it to trial, where "I'm sure I will prevail."

Defense attorney Joel Brodsky argues that his client is immune from prosecution for the gun charges because he was still a police officer when authorities seized the weapon.

Peterson has been named a suspect in his wife's disappearance but hasn't been charged.

Investigators have also exhumed the body of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen, and ruled her death a homicide.

Vatis asked Peterson if he feels pressure from all the recent activity.

"I just have to maintain, and not let them push me into something stupid," he said.

VIDEO:
http://video.nbc5.com/player/?id=280873

Copyright 2008 by NBC5.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


 

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6295745

Peterson due in court on gun charge

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | 7:02 AM
Drew Peterson is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on a gun charge.

In May, the former Bolingbrook police sergeant found himself on the other side of the law. Police arrested Peterson for a gun violation.

While Peterson was processed at the Bolingbrook police station, his mug shot was taken. He was eventually released after posting a $7,500 bond.

State police had seized an assault rifle along with several other guns last November as part of their investigation into the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy. But it turned out that the rifle was illegal. The barrel's length was too short under Illinois gun law.

Peterson's attorney has maintained that because Peterson was a former member of the police SWAT team he was exempt from the law.

"As long as they are registered duty weapons they can carry fully assault machine guns," said Joel Brodsky, Drew Peterson's attorney.

"There is a potential that an illegal weapon may be put back on the street and we can't allow that to happen," said Chuck Pelkie , Spokesperson for Will Co. state's attorney.

Peterson's attorney is going to ask the judge to transfer ownership of the assault rifle to Peterson's son who is a suburban police officer.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6295745

Peterson due in court on gun charge

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | 7:02 AM
Drew Peterson is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on a gun charge.

In May, the former Bolingbrook police sergeant found himself on the other side of the law. Police arrested Peterson for a gun violation.

While Peterson was processed at the Bolingbrook police station, his mug shot was taken. He was eventually released after posting a $7,500 bond.

State police had seized an assault rifle along with several other guns last November as part of their investigation into the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy. But it turned out that the rifle was illegal. The barrel's length was too short under Illinois gun law.

Peterson's attorney has maintained that because Peterson was a former member of the police SWAT team he was exempt from the law.

"As long as they are registered duty weapons they can carry fully assault machine guns," said Joel Brodsky, Drew Peterson's attorney.

"There is a potential that an illegal weapon may be put back on the street and we can't allow that to happen," said Chuck Pelkie , Spokesperson for Will Co. state's attorney.

Peterson's attorney is going to ask the judge to transfer ownership of the assault rifle to Peterson's son who is a suburban police officer.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local....0,4593650.story

Judge to rule on Drew Peterson gun charge

Tribune staff report
7:05 AM CDT, July 30, 2008
A Will County judge today will decide on whether to throw out a gun charge against Drew Peterson or let the case proceed.

Judge Richard Schoenstedt is expected to issue his ruling at a 9:30 a.m. hearing.

In May, Peterson was charged with felony use of an unlawful weapon—namely an assault rifle whose barrel was nearly 5 inches shorter than allowed by state law, according to authorities.

The charge carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

Peterson, 54, has been named a suspect in the Oct. 28 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, who was 23 at the time. Authorities are also conducting a murder investigation into the 2004 drowning of his previous wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson has not been charged in those cases and maintains he has done nothing wrong.

The weapon in question was a Remington rifle that Peterson's attorney, Joel Brosky, earlier said was "a registered duty weapon" that his client had used for 10 years in connection with his work as a SWAT team member with the Bolingbrook Police Department before he retired in November. He said state police had the weapon in their possession before Peterson's retirement, so there was "no basis for this charge."

However, the weapon "was illegal, and it was privately owned," a spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office asserted at the time an arrest warrant was issued for Peterson on the gun charge.

Spokesman Charles Pelkie agreed the weapon had been in possession of state police, "so it wasn't really an issue."

"But we can't allow an illegal weapon to go back out on the street," he said. "At this point, it was appropriate to file the charge."

While state law provides an exemption for law enforcement to carry a shorter weapon, Pelkie said that does not apply to Peterson but declined to say why.

Bolingbrook police spokesman Lt. Ken Teppel said the weapon was not issued by the department, and any personal weapons owned by Peterson must be lawful. Teppel said, "If it's a personal weapon, he is still bound by state law, federal law."

WBBM 780 AM to see if they have anything breaking.

LISTEN ONLINE LIVE:

http://radiotime.com/station/s_27349/WBBM_780.aspx

So you don't have to be an Illinois resident to put in two cents to the Governor about the bill?  Cuz if you don't, I'll do it right now!
-Becker

Nice to hear from you.  Hope things are good with you.  I'm loving all this banter on tv!

Hi Izzy!

Yes, I quite enjoyed it!  Some good stuff there!

I will be the outsider here when I say this, and an unpopular voice I'm sure, but....

When Brodsky threw a fit about Len having the full reign on national T.V. to outright call DP a murderer - he had a valid point.  The whole show seemed like an out-and-out attack.

Now...I'm certainly not a DP fan,  or Brodky's either - but if I was a lawyer in that position (never would I though!) - I'd have a problem with the whole set up too.

Not saying I didn't enjoy to see them all squirm (because I really did! LoL) - but I do hope that things like this stay out of the courtroom when it's time.  Nothing like that lawyer team to try and use things like this to their advantage, you know?

Looks like I'll be talking to myself!  Where is everyone?  Lots of posters on the other site.  I like this one better. 

Loved the videos from M&J show from the other day.