Peterson's Lawyer Wants $20M Bail Reduced

Former Cop Charged With 3rd Wife's Murder; Attorney Wants Judge To Set "Reasonable" Bail

(AP)  Drew Peterson's lead attorney said he'll ask a judge to sharply reduce the former suburban Chicago police officer's bond from the current $20 million to "a reasonable level."

Joel Brodsky said at a news conference Sunday that a bond between $500,000 and $1 million would be within the range set in other murder cases in Will County.

"We are ... going to attempt to get this excessive bond down to a reasonable level and see that Drew is given the same bond as anybody who's accused of a similar crime," Brodsky said.

Peterson remains jailed on charges of first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson is a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.

If the bond is reduced to $500,000, Brodsky said he thinks Peterson would be able to pay it. Peterson would have to post 10 percent to go free while he awaits trial.

Later Sunday, Peterson's publicist said Brodsky visited Peterson that afternoon in the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet.

"Drew understands the seriousness of the situation but he is in good spirits and has not lost his sense of humor," Brodsky said in the statement.

Peterson is being held in segregation at the facility, both because he's a former Bolingbrook police officer and because his case is high-profile, Brodsky said.

And given the case's high profile, he said he'll likely ask the judge to move the case out of Will County or to seat a jury from outside of northern Illinois.

He said he hasn't made the decision yet because trying the case among people who know Peterson has its advantages.

"On one hand, Drew has been serving the citizens of Will County for 30 years, he's been a part of the thin blue line that's kept them safe, and he's certainly a well-known member of the community," Brodsky said. "On the other hand, obviously we have to worry about all the tremendous amount of negative publicity that's been given to him."

Peterson is next due in court May 18.

[NancyLou9]

oh my GAWD, the pictures of his sons whenever he's with them speaks volumes! They look like brain washed cult members!

[NancyLou9]

I have to agree. Twenty Million is far too high for an innocent guy to prepare his defense. Plus, his ties to the community (not to mention three or four ex-wives buried in the area) insure that he is no flight risk.
Posted by DaVicar5 at 6:30 AM : May 11, 2009
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and his lawyer doesn't think he's a flight risk either:

""Drew clearly isn't a flight risk," Brodsky said. "If he was going to run, he would have run a long time ago."
Posted by andie52 at 7:56 AM : May 11, 2009
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Up to now, he had no reason to flee. He thought he had gotten away with murder. Let him loose now and you bet your sweet bippy he'll run so fast he'll make the roadrunner look like a jogger.

[NancyLou9]

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FIRST 2 WIVES?
Posted by cleolady1 at 2:42 PM : May 12, 2009
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I believe his first ex-wife is still alive. Apparently, that's the divorce that taught him how expensive it can be, leading him to kill the rest rather than divorce them.

[NancyLou9]

Why is anyone taking up for this puke? Did you see how unstable he acted when he was arrested? The guys not wound too tight!! ----------------------- Posted by d106d

Last time I checked, it's not illegal to act in a strange manner.
Posted by DaVicar5 at 8:14 AM : May 11, 2009
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Is that why you're still running free?

[cleolady1]

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FIRST 2 WIVES?

[cleolady1]

ARE YOU PEOPLE IDIOTS THINKING THIS MAN IS INNOCENT. DID YOU NOT READ ABOUT THE FINDINGS OF THE 3RD WIFE. WHERE IS THE 4TH WIFE IF SHE RAN OFF WITH SOMEONE WHY HAS SHE NOT SURFACED YET, DIDN'T HIS FRIEND OR RELATIVE WHOEVER STATED HE HELPED THIS MURDER REMOVE A HEAVY DIFFLE BAG OR SOMETHING AROUN THE SAME TIME AS HIS YOUNG 4 TH WIFE DISAPPEARED?

GIVE ME A BREAK AND OH YEA THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW THIS MAN THE BEST WHICH IS HIS WIVES BOTH THE 3RD AND 4TH WIFE TOLD THEIR RELATIVES THIS WOMAN HATER WAS GOING TO KILL THEM. IT'S A GOOD THING IN ILL YOU DO NOT NEED A BODY TO PUT THIS MAN UP FOR TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF HIS 4TH WIFE.

GOOD THING THE 5TH ONE FLED OR SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN NEXT. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING CLOSE TO THIS MONSTER, THIS BULLY HE NEEDS TO BE HUNG OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND WHIPPED!

THESE POOR WOMEN FAMILIES, DID HE NOT THINK ONCE ABOUT THESE WOMEN FAMILIES? OF COURSE NOT HE IS A SELF CENTERED GOOD FOR NOTHING A__ _ HOLE..

[andie52]

Does anyone remember Richard Jewell ? Falsely accused of bombing the Atlanta Olympics and had his life ruined by the media and the DA ?

This guy may or may not be guilty, but I have not seen ANYTHING that suggests that he ius anything but a guy who believed in marrying too young girls, who took advantage of him, and is a GOOD DAD. Him being in jail only punishes his kids, more than anything.

Just because he is the CLASS CLOWN does not make him guilty !
Posted by hamiltongrad at 5:19 PM : May 11, 2009

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He's the only one who thinks he's funny. Have you looked at the picture of him with his boys-their faces tell a lot.
I'm not going to debate you because you on this on any other post but you always seem to be advocating for the wrong people.

[hamiltongrad]

Does anyone remember Richard Jewell ? Falsely accused of bombing the Atlanta Olympics and had his life ruined by the media and the DA ?

This guy may or may not be guilty, but I have not seen ANYTHING that suggests that he ius anything but a guy who believed in marrying too young girls, who took advantage of him, and is a GOOD DAD. Him being in jail only punishes his kids, more than anything.

Just because he is the CLASS CLOWN does not make him guilty !

[DaVicar5]

Why is anyone taking up for this puke? Did you see how unstable he acted when he was arrested? The guys not wound too tight!! ----------------------- Posted by d106d




Last time I checked, it's not illegal to act in a strange manner.

[DaVicar5]

and his lawyer doesn't think he's a flight risk either:
"Drew clearly isn't a flight risk," Brodsky said. "If he was going to run, he would have run a long time ago." ---------------------- Posted by andie52




Well, there you go!

Can't argue with Lawyer Logic.