http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1021762,stebic062408.articleCops to release Stebic's guns -- but he can't have them
June 24, 2008Recommend (5)
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter
Police investigating the 2007 disappearance of Plainfield resident Lisa Stebic have to relinquish 24 guns they seized from her estranged husband, a Will County judge said today.
But that doesn’t mean Craig Stebic will get back the rifles, shotguns and pistols taken by police, Judge Richard Schoenstedt said.
Stebic, 42, isn’t eligible to obtain the guns because State Police earlier this year revoked his firearm owners identification card.
But Schoenstedt said he likely will allow Stebic to transfer the guns to another owner, or possibly sell them.
That arrangement would mirror one Schoenstedt approved last month in another high-profile Will County case, when he ordered police to return eight guns seized from Drew Peterson following the October 2007 disappearance of Peterson’s wife, Stacy.
Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police officer whose FOID card also had been revoked by police, was allowed to transfer the guns to his adult son.
While Schoenstedt withheld final approval on the weapons transfer pending a September court hearing, attorney George Lenard said he was pleased Craig Stebic would have some control over where the guns go.
“He has the right to transfer ownership,” Lenard said.
Schoenstedt also withheld any decision on a request by Stebic for the return of his pickup truck, which still is being held by police probing the April 30, 2007 disappearance of his 37-year-old wife.
Craig Stebic has been named a “person of interest” by police probing her disappearance, but has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Schoenstedt already has ordered police to return a Saturn Ion automobile to Stebic.
