An appellate court judge will have to decide whether Cleve Heidelberg can be released on bond. That was the final ruling of Peoria County Judge Al Purham Fri., siding with arguments made by the State Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.
Heidelberg’s Attorney Andy Hale was visibly startled by the Judge’s decision but says he’s confident his client will walk free soon.
“We got the conviction vacated. He knows his day is coming. I mean, I think he just gets his hopes up, ‘today’s the day,’” Hale said. “We thought, today was the day. It’s a roller coaster of emotions for him.”
Heidelberg has served 47 years in prison for the murder of a Peoria County Sheriff's deputy that was vacated last week. Judge Purham’s ruling is like a legal time-machine, that sets Heidelberg back into a “pre-trial” status, as a man charged with murder.
Hale will file a motion to the appellate court in Ottawa to have Heidelberg released on bond. The state could appeal that decision.
