Drew Peterson Gets Another 40 Years in Prison

He was sentenced Friday for trying to hire a fellow inmate to kill a prosecutor
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 29, 2016 5:48 PM CDT
Drew Peterson Gets Another 40 Years in Prison
Drew Peterson   (Uncredited)

Former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson was given an additional 40 years in prison Friday for trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who put him behind bars for killing his third wife, the AP reports. During his sentencing hearing, Peterson told Judge Richard Brown he never wanted State's Attorney James Glasgow killed and claimed to know all along a fellow inmate was recording their conversations. He added that at the time of the recordings, in November 2014, he was suicidal and didn't believe he would live to see the scam come to fruition. "I never did try to have you killed," Peterson said toward Glasgow. "You can think what you want."

After the hearing, Glasgow expressed skepticism about Peterson's statement, calling him "deluded." Peterson's fellow inmate, Antonio "Beast" Smith, wore a wiretap for prosecutors, and during the trial, jurors heard hours of Smith's recorded conversations with Peterson. Smith also testified Peterson enlisted him to help kill Glasgow. Glasgow said a lengthy sentence was necessary as a deterrent, otherwise convicts will believe they can kill a prosecutor and get the minimum sentence. The 62-year-old Peterson is serving a 38-year sentence for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He is scheduled for parole in 2047, but Friday's sentence must be served consecutively, making it likely Peterson will die in prison. (More Drew Peterson stories.)

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