No Drew. I Won’t Accept Collect Calls From Will County Detention Center.

Drew Peterson has been in jail about three weeks on charges of two counts; murder and assault in a manner that is expected to cause death.  He is currently being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet, Ill., on $20 million bail.  He was arrested May 7.

Joel Brodsky, Peterson’s attorney, wants to pick the judge who will preside over his client’s murder trial.  Chicago attorney Brodsky has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of trying to get Peterson’s case moved out of Will County, but on Friday, May 29th, after first filing a petition  requesting a Cook county judge make the decision as to who will sit on the bench for Peterson’s trial, Brodsky filed a second petition asking that decision be left up to Will County Judge Richard Schoenstedt.  Just last week, State’s Attorney James Glasgow accused Judge Schoenstedt of unspecified bias and succeeded, over Brodsky’s objection, in having him removed from the case.  Brodsky is not only looking to get Judge Schoenstedt back on the trial, but wants the judge assigned in his place, Carla Allesio Policandriotes, out of the picture.  In his petition, Brodsky said he “fears that (Peterson) will not receive a fair and impartial trial from” Policandriotes.

Solicitor Glasgow filed a motion also this week asking whichever judge does end up hearing the case to forbid attorneys from leaking information contained in discovery evidence.  He intends to turn over evidence to the defense team this coming week.  Glasgow also filed a motion requestiong the card games at the jail visits between Peterson and Brodsky discontinue.  On May 24, Brodsky showed up at the Will County jail to see his client and they played cards during the attorney-client visit.  Glasgow stated that Peterson is receiving preferential treatment which other inmates are not afforded.  He asked the court to order Brodsky to converse with Peterson through a videoconference system.  Peterson also is allowed unlimited visits with his attorneys.

Because Peterson is a former police officer and high-profile inmate, he is being kept in solitary confinement in the facility’s medical unit where he can be segregated from the general population. Behind the clear door of his 6-by-9 foot cell, Peterson has a bed, toilet, sink and shower, which faces a centralized open area where guards monitor activity from a raised command bridge.

Peterson is allowed out of the cell for 90 minutes each day when he can sit in the common area, look through the small library of lawbooks or use a computer that does not have Internet access for legal research.  During this time period, Peterson can make collect phone calls to whomever he wants, as long as the collect calls are accepted.  He can talk up to twenty minutes.  It was during this time period that Peterson made his collect call to Mancow Muller’s radio show and joked about a new contest entitled “A Conjugal Visit with Drew.”  Peterson complained that his “cuddling abilities have been taken away” and asked Muller to help him find love.  How did Peterson get Muller’s phone number to the radio show?  Joel Brodsky assured Muller that Peterson would provide some comedy for the show via phone calls.

Glasgow is worried Peterson won’t get a fair and impartial trial but his client has done everything possible to keep his face in the public’s eye.  With the phone calls to the radio station, his on-again-off-again relationship with his teen-aged girlfriend, and his silly remarks to media about his “spiffy duds” and “bling” on his wrists, Peterson has made a mockery of the seriousness of the allegations against him and the corrections department, which is affiliated with the sheriff’s office where Peterson once worked.

Peterson talked about the showers being cold, the jail is cold, the “food is different,” and made a comment about the jail having seatbelts on the toliets due to the food.  He stated he misses grooming his mustache and nose hairs, which is too much information for me, and said that the detention facility staff determines what TV programs he gets to see.  In another attempt to be funny, Peterson claimed that if the female (gal) guards were in the day room, he has to watch the soap operas, but if the male (guy) officers are there, they watch sports.  Yes, Drew Peterson is a sexist, IMO. 

Some people are angry at his attempts to gain notoriety.  The Will County Corrections facility has not had any other inmate try to bring attention to themselves through phone calls to radio stations or play to the media when escorted to court.  Peterson’s jokes about his incarceration are a lame attempt to seek attention and portray himself as unconcerned over the current charges against him.  In my opinion, all he’s done is show his arrogance and lack of respect for the law.  This makes me wonder just what type of police officer was Peterson.  He certainly didn’t just become an arrogant, sexist son-of-a-gun.  Frankly, Peterson has shown no remorse for any of his actions or grief over the loss of his third ex-wife or the disappearance of his fourth wife.

People hate Peterson and have already determined he is guilty of not only killing Kathleen Savio, but his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.  Some cite that Peterson, having been a police officer for a number of years, is skilled in the art of crime.  He knows how to commit a murder and not leave a trace.  He’s studied crime scenes for most of his career as an officer.  Has he developed the skills of a murderer?

Others despise him because he dates young girls, while some say Peterson is a victim of a witch hunt.  He is presumed innocent at this time and no proof has been presented to indicate a homicide has occurred other than the second autopsy.  The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Peterson commited the murder.  His attorney plans to attack the law allowing Savio’s written and verbal concerns that Peterson was going to kill her.  Prosecutor James Glasgow said Peterson told a fellow police officer that he would be financially ruined by a pending divorce, and life would be easier if Savio were dead.  Peterson’s step-brother’s statement has already been attacked through his previous alcoholic behavior and depression.  In the words of Joel Brodsky, Thomas Morphey has a history of mental issues.  Peterson stated Morphey’s story of assisting him in moving a blue barrel from the home is untrue and his step-brother is “hallucinating.”  Are these statements going to hold up in court?  Where’s the hard evidence to tie Peterson to Savio’s death?

Peterson is due back in court June 17.  Peterson has never shied from the media and has often offered up jokes and comedic antics over the past couple of years.  His attorney claims this is Peterson’s way of dealing with stress.  Let’s hope his comedy tour comes to an end and we don’t see any more attempts by him to joke and play to the media.  This kind of behavior only fuels the anger from the public and makes it harder to find an impartial jury, but isn’t that what Peterson wants?  Is his behavior truly a stress reliever or is it the actions of man who’s not taking life, as it is for him now, seriously?  Is Peterson actually laughing in the faces of the legal system because he knows he done a great job covering up any evidence to link him to any crime?

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