Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Disgraced Cop's Wife

A Lake County judge on Tuesday denied a motion filed by Melodie Gliniewicz to dismiss four counts of unlawful use of charitable funds, the Daily Herald reports. 

Lake County Judge Victoria Rosetti said the widow of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz was legally accountable for misappropriating funds taken from the Fox Lake Explorer program, according to the article. 

Melodie Gliniewicz was indicted by a grand jury earlier this year following an investigation into an embezzlement scheme that ended up robbing the Fox Lake Explorers program of thousands of dollars. Police said Lt. Gliniewicz staged his own murder after embezzling funds from the Explorer program for years. He was found shot dead in Fox Lake on Sept. 1.

Melodie Gliniewicz played a “fiduciary role as an adult advisor with the Fox Lake Police Explorer Post,” which was run by her late husband, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Christopher Covelli said in a news release following Melodie Glineiwicz’s indictment.

Detectives determined some of the personal expenses paid from the police explorer account included a trip to Hawaii, payments to businesses such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Fox Lake Theatre, and over 400 restaurant charges, Covelli said.

Melodie Gliniewicz has already pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, unlawful use of charitable funds, money laundering and misdemeanor count of conspiracy, according to the Daily Herald. 

More via the Daily Herald

More on the Gliniewicz Case

• Melodie Gliniewicz Enters Not Guilty Pleas to New Charges
• Widow of Disgraced Fox Lake Lt. Joe Gliniewicz Wants His Pension
• Legislation Introduced to Prevent Widow of Disgraced Cop From Receiving Pension
• Fox Lake Lt. Gliniewicz Took His Own Life, Sources Say
• Trial Date Set for Melodie Gliniewicz

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