JOLIET – Drew Peterson is in the spotlight again facing sensational charges – a murder-for-hire scheme to kill Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.

Authorities did not give any details on the charges. And Glasgow on Monday said little, noting he may be called as a witness.

But one of the three attorneys who defended Peterson when he was prosecuted by Glasgow called the allegations "unbelievable."

"I never noticed any animosity Drew had toward Glasgow during the trial," said Joe Lopez, a Chicago attorney in Joliet on another murder case when the charges were announced Monday.

"I wonder if this is just based on some jailhouse snitch or if there are recordings to support it," Lopez said. "[Peterson] knows better. It's very out of character."

Peterson, 61, appeared to be a carefree suspect in the years leading up to his conviction for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in September 2012. He has appealed that conviction.

Peterson did publicity tours with another former attorney, appearing on national television. He was regularly available to the media. He considered such celebrity stunts as appearing on a reality TV show about a Nevada brothel.

A made-for-TV movie came out before he was convicted.

All the time, Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police sergeant, faced more than murder charges in Savio's death. He also was a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, who has never been found and has been missing since October 2007.

The murder-for-hire charges were filed Monday in Randolph County by the Illinois Attorney General's office and the local state's attorney's office. Randolph County is home to Menard Correctional Center, the state prison where Peterson is serving a 38-year murder sentence.

The charges allege Peterson, between September 2013 and December 2014, solicited an individual to carry out a murder-for-hire plot against Glasgow. Peterson made an initial appearance Monday on the charges at the Randolph County Courthouse, according to a news release from the attorney general's office. Peterson did not enter a plea, according to The Associated Press.

The Randolph County State's Attorney's office referred questions to the attorney general.

The Attorney General's office would not provide any details about the alleged scheme or how close it may have come to reality. A spokeswoman for the attorney general said more details should come out at a March 3 preliminary hearing in Randolph County.

Glasgow scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon but then canceled it.

However, he did have a brief encounter with reporters outside the state's attorney's office, where Glasgow said he could not comment but did acknowledge when asked that he could be called as a witness.

Later, Glasgow issued a written statement saying in part: "It is unfortunate that prosecutors sometimes must deal with allegations of this nature. However, in no way will a threat to my personal safety deter me from the important work I perform as the State's Attorney on behalf of the citizens of Will County."

Peterson's attorney, Steve Greenberg, did not return calls for comment.

Meanwhile, Peterson is engaged in another legal battle as he attempts to hold onto his police pension. He still gets $6,000 a month in pension payments.

On Jan. 30, the Bolingbrook Police Pension Board voted unanimously to reject Peterson's motion to delay a hearing that could stop his pension. Public Safety Director Tom Ross said the board also denied a motion Greenberg filed on Peterson's behalf to have the charge be made more specific than "a felony conviction."

The Pension Board expects to hold the hearing during its April 24 meeting.

• Herald-News reporter Brian Stanley contributed to this report.