Melodie Gliniewicz's Attorney: Charges Are 'Too Vague'

The attorney for Melodie Gliniewicz is looking to have criminal charges against Gliniewicz dismissed, claiming the charges brought against her are so vague they could be unconstitutional.

Gliniewicz's lawyer Donald Morrison was in court on Tuesday and requested more time to go through 12,000 pages of discovery and prepare a motion that he believes will lead Lake County judge James Booras to dismiss the charges, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

Melodie Gliniewicz, 52, of Antioch, 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 Melodie’s husband, Fox Lake Lt. Charles Joseph 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, police have said.

Melodie Gliniewicz is charged with felony counts of conspiracy, unlawful use of charitable funds for personal gain, and money laundering. Officials said Gliniewicz could face anywhere from probation to seven years in prison if convicted on the charges, the Lake County News-Sun reports.

Last month, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti stepped down from the high-profile case and Booras was appointed to take her place, the Daily Herald reports. It’s unclear what the conflict of interest is that forced Rossetti to step down.

Following the switch in judges, Melodie Gliniewicz’s defense attorney filed a motion to vacate a previous ruling by Rossetti that denied a defense motion to dismiss some of the indictment counts against Gliniewicz.

Melodie Gliniewicz is next expected in court on Nov. 17.