Peru man ordered held on $200,000 bond in school threat case

A Peru man accused of threatening a school shooting had his bond increased Thursday to $200,000 for allegedly violating his bail.

Steven A. Tutko, 36, is awaiting trial on one count of Class 4 felony threat to a school building or person. He could face 1-3 years in prison if convicted of leaving a voicemail message at the office of state Sen. Sue Rezin in which he allegedly threatened to commit a mass shooting at an unspecified school.

The threat was uttered in early 2019 but Tutko was found unfit for trial that summer and remanded to the Illinois Department of Human Services for extended mental health treatment. He’s back in court and was free on bond until last week, when prosecutors alleged he made forbidden contact with Rezin’s office on Sept. 23. He initially was ordered held without bond pending a new hearing.

Thursday, La Salle County prosecutors asked for bond to be increased to $250,000; but Tutko’s lawyer objected. Assistant Public Defender Ryan Hamer argued the new allegations are unproven and Tutko lacked the funds to post virtually any bond set.

Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia increased the bond to $200,000, citing “all circumstances from the beginning of the case.” She also silenced Tutko, who appeared with a sheaf of papers and tried to dispute his detention.

“Enough is enough,” Raccuglia said, warning Tutko she would hold him in direct contempt if he persisted.

Though Tutko never identified which school he’d allegedly targeted, Peru police took the alleged threat seriously enough to take “appropriate measures” at local schools. In last week’s filing, prosecutors sought the bond increase citing concerns that Tutko’s mental health was “deteriorating.”

Tutko will next appear Nov. 18. Trial dates are pending.