Pelo Trial Focuses On Potential Evidence

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Pelo Trial Focuses On Potential Evidence

By Gina Ford

A Bloomington police detective testified today that he was involved in the first search warrant of Jeff Pelo's home.

Detective Scott Mathewson said in the master bedroom, police found several items they thought could be related to several rape investigations.

From the bedroom, Mathewson testified he found sex toys, condoms, a large black glove and a metal lockbox containing two handguns, all items police believe Pelo used in the attacks.

In addition he says he recovered four flashlights, a pair of binoculars and two folding knives.

He said in a hall closet he also found a large black mag-light.

The detective says he also searched Pelo's pick-up truck where he found rope, a knife and more flashlights.

Testimony will resume on Monday.

Crime scene investigator, Detective Tommy Walters helped process the apartments of rape victims.

Walters told the jury he removed items from the crimes scenes looking for fingerprints.

Walters says none of the prints matched those of Jeff Pelo.

However, prosecutors reminded the jury that the perpetrator wore gloves during the attacks and according to the rape victims, made great efforts to cover his tracks.

Jurors have seen a shirt and police photos of two handguns taken from Pelo's home, but Judge Robert Freitag says jurors can't see pictures of sex toys.

Defense attorney Michael Rosenblat argued Thursday that the sex toys weren't relevant because they weren't the ones that some of the women accused Pelo of using to rape them.

Rosenblat also argued that the guns were a different color than
the one seen by one of the women.

The shirt carries the name ``London'' across the chest. One of the women says her attacker wore a shirt with the word ``England''
on it.

Pelo is charged with multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

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