Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Melodie Gliniewicz

A Lake County judge on Monday denied a defense motion to dismiss two counts of unlawful use of charitable funds against Melodie Gliniewicz.

Judge James Borcas determined prosecutors have presented enough evidence to warrant the charges. But Borcas could still dismiss other charges. He has set a future hearing to decide if prosecutors have provided enough documents to the defense outlining what crimes Melodie Gliniewicz committed, the Daily Herald reports.

Melodie Gliniewicz faces nine felony and misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, unlawful use of charitable funds for personal gain and money laundering, according to the Daily Herald.

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. Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz 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 is next expected in court on Jan. 30.

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