of former cop sentenced to 440 years in prison

Rape victims pleased former cop never will be free: Former Bloomington police sergeant has been sentenced to 440 years in prison for the rapes of Sarah Gliege and three other women between 2002 and 2005 and the stalking of a fifth woman.


Sarah Gliege, left, and Kristi Mills, both sexual assault victims of Jeff Pelo, expressed their relief that Pelo would spend the rest of his life behind bars after McLean County judge Robert Freitag handed down a 440 year sentence to the former Bloomington Police officer, Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at the McLean County Law and Justice Center. [photo via]

Sarah Gliege remembers far too much about the January night she was raped.

She remembers the gun on her chest, pointed toward her head. She remembers the realization that, months from her wedding and just after finding out she was pregnant, she might be killed.

And she remembers thinking she might save herself if she just gave in.

"No one should have to beg another person for his or her life," Gliege said Tuesday before Jeffrey Pelo, the man convicted of the 2005 rape, was sentenced to 440 years in prison. "It's a soul-crushing experience."

Judge Robert Freitag sentenced Pelo, a former Bloomington police sergeant, for the rapes of Gliege and three other women between 2002 and 2005 and the stalking of a fifth woman.

Jeffrey Pelo’s wife, Rickilee Pelo believes that her husband is innocent. Jeffrey Pelo said he was innocent.