BLOOMINGTON - Since his arrest more than two years ago on stalking and rape charges, former police officer Jeff Pelo has maintained his innocence and his silence. | Video: Pelo interview | Pelo's wife statement (PDF) | Special section: Story archive, court documents | What you didn't hear in victim impact statements

The 43-year-old former sergeant declined to testify during his six-week trial and said simply "I'm innocent" when offered the chance to make a statement Tuesday before he was sentenced to a 440-year prison term.

The only statement made by Pelo about the accusations against him came in a videotaped interview with police hours after he was stopped outside the home of Jonelle Galuska.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Pelo said repeatedly when asked about his actions.

The interview played for jurors during his trial was obtained by The Pantagraph on Wednesday under a Freedom of Information Act request to the McLean County state's attorney's office.

Portions of the interview are available online at pantagraph.com.

Under questioning by Bloomington police Detective Larry Shepherd, Pelo contended repeatedly in the interview that he was looking for a possible new home for his mother-in-law. He said he was taking a shortcut between two homes to a lake in the area of Andy Court when a police officer stopped him.

Shepherd, one of many Bloomington police officers who worked on the criminal investigation involving their former co-worker, did not accept Pelo's explanation.

"There's problems here Jeff, all kinds of problems. I don't buy what you're saying for a second," Shepherd said in the interview.

Police also recognized that Pelo's suspicious demeanor outside the woman's home could lead to more serious allegations.

"You were not Sergeant Pelo last night. You were absolutely someone else," the detective told Pelo.

The sentence that spans several lifetimes did not come as a surprise to Pelo, defense attorney Michael Roseblat said Wednesday.

"We were anticipating something that would be a life sentence - whether it was 400, 200 or 100 years," he said.

An appeal will be filed on Pelo's behalf.

Steadfast in their support of Pelo was the former officer's wife, Rickielee Pelo, and the couple's three children.

Pelo's family had an extended visit with him Tuesday before the sentencing hearing but was not in the courtroom when the sentence was delivered.

Rosenblat said the decision was made to spare Pelo's family the emotional court hearing.

"We didn't see a purpose of exposing them to the emotional statements in court," Rosenblat said Wednesday.

A handwritten statement from Mrs. Pelo was part of the material Roseblat gave to the judge on Pelo's behalf.

"I personally know Jeff better than anyone else in the world. We have shared our lives together. I know Jeff has an incredible set of morals. He has always strived to be the best person possible, and therefore, set a wonderful example to me, his children, family and friends," Pelo's wife told the judge.