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Former GHS Basketball Player Has Bond Reduced in Sex Assault Case
A current Black Hawk College student, and former Galesburg High School student athlete has had his bail reduced. 19 year old John Peters was arrested last Sunday on charges of Criminal Sexual Assault and Unlawful Restraint and had spent this past week in Knox County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Peters was in front of Knox County Circit Court Judge Dwayne Morrison Friday in his first court appearance since his arrest. A crowd of about 50 supporters were on hand including members of his basketball team, relatives and friends. Judge Morrison heard from Peters, members of his family, and his basketball coach at Black Hawk College, and lowered Peters' bond to $20,000, after Peters' mother claimed she could likely raise the required ten percent.

Morrison said it would be a punishment if Peters weren't allowed to continue his classes at school. He said he weighed the seriousness of the allegations with Peters' lack of prior criminal record or disciplinary problems at school. As part of his bond requirement, Peters must be accompanied by an adult at all times when he's in Knox County, and and have no contact with the victim or her family, while attending school and maintaining passing grades.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 9th. If convicted on both felonies, Peters could spent nearly 18 years in prison. He is accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year old woman while they both attended a party on Duffield Avenue last week.
01 30 09 by Newsroom
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