Collinsville Police Officer Accused of Sexual Battery in Lawsuit –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On January 26, 2025

Collinsville, Ill. (ECWd) –

A lawsuit filed in Madison County Circuit Court on January 7 accuses Collinsville Police Officer Giuseppe Michael Coppotelli of sexual battery and other misconduct, alleging he used his position of authority to coerce a citizen into non-consensual sexual acts.

Filed under the 14th Amendment and the Illinois Gender Violence Act as Count I and Count II, the suit seeks damages for what it describes as an egregious abuse of power.

The plaintiff claims that Coppotelli, while on duty and in a marked K-9 police vehicle, stopped her under the pretense of questioning why she was walking without carrying a light—a non-existent legal requirement.

The lawsuit alleges that after a search, Coppotelli fabricated the discovery of a container of pills and used that as leverage to coerce the plaintiff into sexual acts. “I’ll make you a deal,” Coppotelli allegedly said, according to court documents. “We can just throw those pills away, and you get in the car, and we go behind the Bingo Hall, take care of business, and you go home.”

The complaint states that after Coppotelli drove the plaintiff to a secluded area, he disrobed in the back seat of his cruiser and pressured her into performing oral sex before releasing her. The plaintiff claims this encounter followed two weeks of alleged stalking and harassment by Coppotelli, creating a pattern of abuse that she says left her feeling helpless. The lawsuit describes this act as sexual battery and a violation of the plaintiff’s rights.

“This case represents a gross abuse of authority,” said Thomas Maag, the plaintiff’s attorney. “The allegations speak for themselves, and we are confident they will be proven in court. It is unacceptable for those sworn to uphold the law to abuse their position of power, betraying public trust and preying on the most vulnerable members of society.”

The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 for each count and calls for an injunction preventing Coppotelli from having contact with the plaintiff.

Neither Collinsville Mayor Jeff Stehman nor Acting Chief of Police Brett Boerm returned calls for comment on the case.