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May 21, 2008 10:31 pm US/Central
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Drew Peterson Turns Self In On Gun Charge
Criminal Complaint: Peterson's Gun Barrel Too Short Under State Law
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
Drew Peterson turned himself in to police early Wednesday afternoon on a gun charge.
His attorney, Joel Brodsky, said the charge was trumped up.
The criminal complaint against Peterson, issued by the Will County State's Attorney's office, charged him with Class 3 Felony unlawful use of a weapon.
The complaint said Peterson possessed a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches in length. These guns are not permitted under state law, the complaint said.
Bond for Peterson was set at $75,000, and he was required to pay 10 percent to be freed from custody, the complaint said.
Brodsky paid the bond, and he and Peterson left the Bolingbrook Police Department together Wednesday afternoon.
Brodsky said the charge involves a gun seized after Drew Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in October.
Brodsky says the weapon in question is an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle that Peterson used while he was a police officer. He contends police officers are exempt from the length provision of the law and Peterson was still a police officer when the gun was seized.
"This was Drew's registered duty weapon as a SWAT team member and the last time when it was in his position was when he was still on the Bolingbrook Police Department," Brodsky said. "Therefore under the Illinois law he can have a non-conforming weapon with a short barrel."
Peterson walked into the police station around 12:40 p.m. He has been fighting a ruling that he cannot have his guns returned.
When asked for comment by CBS 2 as he left his house, Drew Peterson simply said, "I love you."
Stacy Peterson has not been seen since Oct. 28, 2007. Illinois State Police said several months ago they suspect she is dead and have called Drew Peterson a suspect in her disappearance.
But Peterson has long contended his wife left him for another man. His attorney has said perhaps Stacy Peterson just did not want to be tied down to an older man and four children anymore.
Stacy Peterson's family's spokesperson, Pamela Bosco, said investigators called to tell her about the arrest Wednesday morning.
"When that call comes through your heart leaps from your chest," Bosco said.
Bosco was disappointed it wasn't directly linked to the disappearance case, but still has faith in police.
"They have to do everything correctly so when it does go to trial they've followed the format. Fine, let 'em do it that way," Bosco said.
And in the Petereson's home of Bolingbrook, no trespassing signs were just the beginning as the circus returned Wednesday. A mix of police officers, gawking neighbors and the crush of the media came as Peterson, Pheasant Circle's most infamous neighbor, turned himself in.
The tribute garden in front of Sharon Bychowski's home let's passersby know she continues the fight to find out just what happened to her friend and neighbor Stacy Peterson.
"We know Stacy Peterson did not leave that house of her own accord," Bychowski said.
Though Peterson's arrest is not directly connected to Stacy's disappearance. Bychowski believes it shows police continue to scrutinize Peterson.
"The Illinois State Police are doing their best in investigating Drew," Bychowski said. "As a whole I know this is just one of many steps."
After processing Peterson, a retired police sergeant now charged with a crime, returned home much less talkative on the orders of his attorney
"I have nothing to say," he told reporters. "Get off my property."
Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, was found dead in a dry bathtub four years ago, in what was initially ruled to be an accidental drowning. But Savio's body was exhumed in November of last year and her death was ruled a homicide.
Drew Peterson has not been charged with any crime in either case.
As a condition of his bond, Peterson is not allowed to leave the state.
He'll be in court on this matter Thursday afternoon.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli, Dana Kozlov and Vince Gerasole; WBBM Newsradio 780 and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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