Suspect in Marseilles Arson Case Relinquishes Demand for Expedited Court Proceedings
In the ongoing saga of Jeffrey Peterson, the Marseilles man accused of torching a house while his brother was trapped inside, the trial has been postponed until the summer.
Jeffrey, a 45-year-old facing charges of aggravated arson, found himself back in the Ottawa courthouse on Thursday. Both parties consented to scrap the scheduled jury trial, originally slated for this week. Peterson is now looking at a July 21 jury trial date.
The allegations? Jeffrey is said to have ignited a home on Oakley Street in Marseilles the morning of January 30, with knowledge that his brother was in the basement. Thankfully, the brother, along with some assistance from the police, managed to break free from the inferno.
Peterson remains incarcerated in the La Salle County Jail, as his application for pretrial release was denied[2]. This all happened after he waived his right to a speedy trial during his April 29 court appearance[1].
- Jeffrey, despite being back in the Ottawa courthouse on Thursday, had his scheduled jury trial Scrapped, agreeing to a new date of July 21.
- The accusation against Jeffrey is that he intentionally set a house on Oakley Street in Marseilles ablaze, aware that his brother was trapped in the basement.
- General news and crime and justice sections have been covering Jeffrey's case since his application for pretrial release was denied, and he was incarcerated in the La Salle County Jail.
- Reports of car-accidents and other incidents wereActive in the general news that day, as Jeffrey waived his right to a speedy trial during his April 29 court appearance, contributing to the postponement of his trial until the summer.
