Melodie Gliniewicz, as she appeared in a January booking photo, and her husband, Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz in a file photo. Legislation was introduced in the Illinois House to disqualify survivor pension benefits for beneficiaries involved in crimes associated to the public official.

More than one year since the death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Gliniewicz, the legacy of the incident continues to evolve.

Sen. David Mc Sweeney (R-52nd) introduced a bill aimed at denying survivor pension from a public official if the beneficiary is found guilty of criminal activity associated to the deceased individual.

House Bill 6602 was filed with the clerk, and brought forward Aug. 31. It does not impact the current application for benefits by Melodie Glinieiwcz, from the Fox Lake Police Pension Board. It will however affect such cases going forward, and could be heard in November, when the Illinois General Assembly convenes for its fall sessions.

McSweeney told a press gathering that people were “outraged,” and that the legislation’s purpose was to insure that similar situations do not occur in the future. The measure amends the Illinois pension code, and states, “Provides for the forfeiture of benefits for any person who otherwise would receive a survivor benefit who is convicted of any felony relating to, or arising, out of, or in connection with, the service of the member from whom the benefit results.”

Melodie Gliniewicz, 51, was indicted last January, by the Lake County Grand Jury, with additional charges in April, all stemming from approximately $10,000 in money spent for personal or business use, from the bank accounts of the disbanded Fox Lake Explorer Post 300 accounts. Both Charles, and Melodie, Gliniewicz had acted in a fiduciary capacity with the accounts.

The bulk of the indictments surround three counts of Disbursing Charitable Funds without authority and for personal benefit (Class 2 felonies), one count of disbursing charitable funds without authority and for personal benefit (Class 3 felony), one count of money laundering (Class 2 felony), and one count of money laundering (Class 3 felony).

The matter came to light, when Charles Gliniewicz was found shot Sept 1, 2014, in a “carefully staged suicide, masked as a homicide,” according to George Filenko, the former commander of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force. The information was made public at a Nov. 1 press conference, where highlighted messages from nearly 6,500 recovered emails and texts alluded to the financial malfeasance.

“I understand what he’s (McSweeney) aiming at, but it still remains that each case is individual and must be considered on its own merits,” said Fred Loffredo, the Fox Lake Police Pension Board’s president. “I haven’t read it fully, and can’t comment on it, one way or the other. At this point, in our actions, the Village of Fox Lake requested a stay until after her criminal trial is completed.

Loffredo said the request came at the board’s Aug. 25 hearing, and was unanimously approved by a 5-0 vote. The widow’s benefits could range from 50-75 percent annually. The yearly salary for Charles Gliniewicz has been listed at $96,000. Adding another dimension to the case is that the former officer was never found guilty or charged with any crimes.

“Technically, he was not charged with anything, and the board ruling will decide how much the widow will receive,’ he said. “The village petitioned to attend the hearings, and show reasons why she shouldn’t get the benefits. We’re two separate agencies.” Ultimately, the village will fund the benefit amounts from municipal coffers.

Loffredo said the pension benefits application was sent to Melodie Gliniewicz on Sept. 2, the day after her husband’s death, and not returned to the board until early Apr., for consideration. Her trail is slated to begin in mid-Nov., and she has pleaded not guilty to all charges.