Court hearing set for September 1 in Lily Peters homicide case

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - The next court date in the Lily Peters homicide case is set.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of September 1 in Chippewa County Circuit Court from noon until 4:30 p.m.

If more time is needed, the court would schedule additional time at the end of the preliminary hearing for a later date.

8th-grader C. P.-B. is facing charges of 1st-degree intentional homicide, 1st-degree sexual assault resulting in great bodily harm and 1st-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 in the death of 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters.

Chippewa County DA Wade Newell asked for a four-hour preliminary hearing. C. P.-B.’s attorney, Michael Cohen, suggested a tentatively longer period of time, citing the amount of material in the case and the number of witnesses to be called. Both sides agreed that witnesses could appear virtually during the preliminary hearing, provided they followed state law for court procedures.

Cohen also requested a gag order on the case seeking to restrict access to non-public information, citing a YouTube video containing drone video, photos, police communications, 911 calls and information about the case. Cohen said that information gathered by law enforcement had been leaked. Cohen asked the court to impose serious consequences on anyone leaking information to the public. DA Newell said that leaking information is already illegal so there is no need for the court to impose any special order regarding the matter. Chippewa County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Lane said he would need to review the video, but reminded the defense, prosecutors and law enforcement that information about the case that is not subject to public open records laws should not be released and should remain confidential.

Chippewa Falls Police told WEAU the video Cohen referred to includes already released information from press releases, media coverage and the criminal complaint--nothing that would have been leaked by officers.

The Chippewa County Sheriff agreed and said he is disappointed with the attorney’s statements.

“I took it personal, a personal attack on law enforcement when it was alleged that law enforcement, without authority, is probably the source of this leak,” said Sheriff James Kowalczyk. “I know for a fact that we are the record keeper of 911 calls, and we would not release any information in an active investigation.”

$1 million bond continues for C. P.-B., who is being held at the Eau Claire Juvenile Detention Center while the case is tried in court.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - Friday’s status conference in Chippewa County Circuit Court is the next court appearance for a 14-year-old boy accused of killing 10-year-old Lily Peters of Chippewa Falls.

8th-grader C. P.-B. is facing charges of 1st-degree intentional homicide, 1st-degree sexual assault resulting in great bodily harm and 1st-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 in the death of 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters.

Friday’s status conference will be conducted with the defendant, C. P.-B., and his new representation, Michael Cohen, appearing virtually. The conference is being set to establish future court dates in the case. The date was picked to allow time for Chippewa County DA Wade Newell to deliver materials to the defendant and his representation and for the defense to review all of the case materials.

Two of the three charges C. P.-B. faces carry a maximum lifetime sentence in Wisconsin prison since he is currently being tried as an adult. He is being held on a $1 million cash bond at the Eau Claire Juvenile Detention Center while the case is tried in court.

The criminal complaint for the case was released in May, but other documents in the case subject to open records laws, including search warrants, will remain sealed until all parties have had time to review their contents. Newell said that those documents contain identifying information and that some of the warrants are part of active investigations.

Newell said in court in May that the 14-year-old boy told investigators that he intended to rape and kill Peters when they left a house in Chippewa Falls together. Newell said that the suspect told investigators that he hit Peters in the stomach and with a stick before strangling her to death and then sexually assaulting her. Peters was found dead near the Duncan Creek Trail in Chippewa Falls on April 25.

The status conference will set future dates for hearings and allow time for all parties, including victims and witnesses, to make arrangements to be in court.

MORE COVERAGE

• Next court date set in Lily Peters homicide case
• Preliminary autopsy results show Iliana Peters’ death was a homicide
• Chippewa Falls homicide suspect receives $1 million bond
• Police: Suspect arrested in Chippewa Falls homicide investigation
• Police: Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead; homicide investigation underway

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