BLOOMINGTON - Health problems have forced attorney Steve Skelton to withdraw as counsel for Bloomington Police Sgt. Jeff Pelo, who is accused of multiple rapes and stalking.

Skelton filed a motion in court Monday asking to end his representation of Pelo. The police officer told Judge Robert Freitag that he will hire another private attorney to defend him on charges that he raped four women between December 2002 and January 2005.

Skelton, a well-respected defense attorney who most recently defended Amanda Hamm against charges of murdering her children, has represented Pelo since his arrest last June.

In his motion to leave the Pelo case, Skelton said he recently has been diagnosed with an illness that will require surgery and a recovery period. He did not provide details of his health condition.

The decision to withdraw from what Skelton described as a complicated case is not linked to any change in the defense contention that Pelo is innocent of the charges, said Skelton.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with my opinion concerning my client's innocence as to the charges against him," Skelton said after the brief hearing. Skelton said in August that he believes police "got the wrong guy."

Pelo was initially charged with stalking and attempted residential burglary after a June report that an officer saw Pelo outside the home of a Bloomington woman's east-side residence. Pelo later was charged in the rapes of four other women from December 2002 and January 2005.

Assistant State's Attorney Mark Messman said police will continue to investigate the allegations against the 17-year veteran of the police department.

"It doesn't change anything for us. We're still putting our best efforts into getting the case ready to go to trial," said Messman.

Messman and Skelton agreed that the evidence involved in the case is extensive. Skelton estimated that the stack of police reports stands more than 3 feet tall.

The prosecutor said the state will oppose any attempts by the defense to move the Pelo case outside McLean County.

The judge set a Feb. 26 status hearing for Pelo. A second court date on March 26 was scheduled for pending motions, including a request from the state that the stalking and rape cases be consolidated.

Pelo, who does not have a trial date, remains in jail on $200,000 bond. He is on paid administrative leave from his post with the police department.