Charges may be dropped against Peterson foe
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com November 5, 2012 11:08AM
Ohio restaurateur Jeff Ruby was arrested Thursday night at Harrah’s casino in Joliet after being thrown out of the Drew Peterson murder trial earlier that day.
Updated: December 7, 2012 6:13AM
JOLIET — Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby may have his contempt charge dropped if he stays out of trouble in Will County.
Ruby was thrown out of the Joliet courthouse and off the property after he mouthed an expletive at Drew Peterson during a break in Peterson’s murder trial this summer.
Ruby was arrested that night at his hotel on the contempt charge.
Monday morning, Chief Judge Gerald Kinney met with Ruby’s lawyer, Steve White, and special prosecutor Dave Neal behind closed doors. Ruby was not present.
After the meeting, Neal said he suggested putting off Ruby’s prosecution to see if Ruby complies with the orders of the court.
He is still deciding what those orders would be, Neal said.
Basically, if Ruby doesn’t return to the Joliet courthouse and disrupt another courtroom, he’s likely in the clear.
“Mr. Ruby has publicly apologized to the court and the people” for his actions, Neal said, which is important.
If Ruby agrees to the deferred prosecution and obeys the court’s orders, Neal could decide to drop the charge.
White declined to comment on the case.
Ruby’s next court date is Nov. 29, to see if Ruby agrees with Neal’s suggestion.
