Izzy's Murder Defendant Wants Bretz Out As Lawyer

JOLIET, IL — Patrick Gleason, the 57-year-old Crest Hill man charged with the March 9, 2018 first-degree murder of Izzy's bartender Danny Rios and the attempted murder of the bar owner's son, Thomas Izquierdo, is severing ties with his private criminal defense counsel, attorney Chuck Bretz, court records show.

Gleason has remained inside Will County Jail's on a $10 million bail since his arrest nearly two years ago. Patch has previously reported that several customers inside the Joliet bar on Theodore Street tackled Gleason following the 1:15 a.m. bar shooting and they pinned him to the ground until Joliet Police officers arrived at the scene of the homicide.

The 52-year-old Rios was shot in the back of the head and he died instantly. This month, the first-degree murder defendant has written several letters to Will County Courthouse officials informing them of his decision to get rid of Bretz.

One of the letters to Will County Circuit County Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen begins by stating, "I am writing you today that I am sending you a motion to relieve counsel of further representation and a notice of filing in the above mentioned case," Gleason advised.

Gleason also sent a two-paged typed letter to his case's presiding judge, Daniel Rippy, stating that, "The Defendant requests a short continuance and wishes to obtain new counsel due to a conflict of interest with present counsel and requests this court to relieve the defendant's present counsel, Mr. Chuck Bretz, of further representation.

"The Defendant's choice to hire new counsel is in no way a delay tactic or to interfere with the administration of justice," the Joliet murder defendant wrote.

Gleason's motion stated that he has remained in custody since March 9, 2018. He was initially hospitalized for a couple days at St. Joe's hospital.

"The defendant wishes to get this case over with and is not trying to delay the current proceedings but doesn't see an end with current counsel," Gleason states. "The defendant currently (is) waiting to meet with two different attorneys and waiting to hear back from two more to discuss their representation."

So why does Gleason want to get rid of his Joliet criminal defense attorney, Bretz?

"The defendant has tried to cooperate with present counsel but counsel refuses to listen to the defendant or allow him to give any directions on his case," Gleason wrote the judge. "There has been a total breakdown of lawyer/client relationship due to the lack of communication ... The lack of lawyer/client relationship has also been admitted by Mr. Bretz on record in open court on November 8, 2019."

RELATED: Chuck Bretz's Contract In Izzy's Murder Case