A judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss felony charges against the widow of a Lake County police officer who authorities say staged his suicide.
MelodieGliniewicz was charged after her husband, Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, died Sept. 1. Authorities say he staged his suicide because he feared discovery of his embezzlement from a youth program.
Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti said in her ruling that Gliniewicz's widow was legally accountable for funds misappropriated from Fox Lake Explorer Post 300.
Melodie Gliniewicz is charged with felony money laundering and misuse of charitable funds. The charges are tied to allegations that more than $10,000 was misspent from accounts intended for the now-defunct Explorers chapter her husband ran.
Attorneys for Gliniewicz have denied any wrongdoing. Her next court date is Aug. 16. Her trial is set for Nov. 14.