Change of venue sought for former police officer's sex-crime trial
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<p align="justify">The trial of a former police sergeant accused of raping four women has again been delayed after the defense on Tuesday announced its intention to seek a change in venue for the trial.
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<p align="justify">Jeff Pelo, the Bloomington officer charged in a string of sexual assaults from 2002 to 2005, had been scheduled to face a jury in February. The earliest he could face trial now would be April 7.
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<p align="justify">During a brief pretrial hearing Tuesday in McLean County court, defense attorney Michael Rosenblat asked for a continuance to file a motion for a change of venue. That request was granted, and all remaining motions in the case will be heard March 10.
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<p align="justify">"We're exploring whether or not we can get a fair trial in McLean County," Rosenblat said after the hearing.
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<p align="justify">McLean County Assistant State's Attorney Mark Messman said after the hearing that the prosecution would oppose a change of venue.
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<p align="justify">Both lawyers were told to have all pretrial motions in the case filed by Feb. 15, and that the March 10 hearing should be the last before trial commences. The prosecution and defense on Tuesday also settled a challenge to eight counts Pelo faces by changing language in the charges to reflect when the victims reported the crimes.
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<p align="justify">If the trial does begin in April, Pelo will have faced the charges for nearly two years before appearing before a jury.
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<p align="justify">He was arrested in June 2006 for allegedly stalking and trying to break into a Bloomington woman's house and was later charged with more than three dozen counts related to four rapes from between December 2002 and January 2005.
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<p align="justify">The former officer has remained jailed on $1 million bond for close to a year and a half while awaiting resolution of the case.
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<p align="justify">For much of that time, he was on paid administrative leave from the Bloomington Police Department, earning his $81,000 annual salary. He resigned from the job in November.
<p align="justify">Reach Journal Star reporter Matt Buedel at (309) 686-3154 or mbuedel@pjstar.com.
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