Lawyer Who Jumped Off New Courthouse: 'I Made A Terrible Mistake'

JOLIET, IL — Back in late February, a lawyer who lives in North Aurora drove to downtown Joliet late at night. Once he parked his car, he strapped on his parachute gear and he entered a construction site that is off-limits to the public. Next, Adam Wirtz climbed to the very top of the new 10-story tall Will County Courthouse, a $215 million county government project expected to be done in 2020. And, figuring no one was around, the 35-year-old attorney jumped.

Wirtz's parachute opened, but things didn't go as planned. He landed in a large parking lot across the street near the downtown Joliet Police Station and was charged with criminal trespassing to state-supported land.

Wirtz has become the subject of multiple articles in the Joliet Patch, news accounts that have been picked up by other outlets, including FM radio stations around Chicago.

Nowadays, Wirtz's criminal court file at the Will County Courthouse has been filled with a stack of letters from several lawyers, who work outside of Joliet, asking that Will County's judicial system go easy on Wirtz, when it comes time for his sentencing.

"I believe I am a productive and upstanding citizen," Wirtz wrote in a letter reflecting on the incident that sparked his arrest. "I made a terrible mistake by going into the courthouse construction site. Already, I have learned a valuable lesson by merely having to deal with this situation and any repercussions from it. It is certainly not something I will repeat."

Wirtz, now 36, further explained that he has been practicing law in Illinois for the past 10 years. "I have no criminal history in my lifetime," he said. "I only have some traffic tickets in my past."

Wirtz's letter, which was provided to Assistant Will County State's Attorney Jonathan Sakellaropoulos, also advises that Wirtz attends the Christ Community Church in Aurora where he teaches one of the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University courses every spring and fall.

"These classes are intended to help people learn to manage their money, live on a budget, get out of debt and plan for a successful future," Wirtz explained.

(Joliet Patch article continues below this photo.)

As for his eventual sentencing, Wirtz has asked that he be spared from spending any time inside the confines of the Will County Jail, which is also within walking distance from the new Will County Courthouse where Wirtz jumped wearing his parachute.

"I am remorseful for my actions. I made a mistake and will not do it again," Wirtz's letter explains. "However, I do not believe a conviction on my record or incarceration would be an appropriate punishment. I feel that a conviction for my first criminal offense at the age of 35 would be an unjust result.

"Additionally, as I am a productive member of society with a unique skill set, I believe that contributing back to the community through additional pro bono legal services and other community service is appropriate in these circumstances, rather than putting me in jail."

Wirtz's letter ends by suggesting that he be given deferred prosecution or court supervision — "and the chance to show that I have learned my lesson."

Wirtz is being represented in Will County by Geneva criminal defense lawyer John Kopp of Kopp Law.

Kopp's letter informs the State's Attorney's Office that he has known his client for the past 10 years. "He is aware that choosing the courthouse as a place to entertain his hobby was in very poor taste and posed a danger to himself and others around him. I would not represent Adam or make these requests if I did not believe he would take the opportunity very seriously and never repeat his conduct," Kopp advised.

One of the other letters asking for leniency at sentencing came from attorney Robert Brouch of Truemper, Titiner and Brouch, attorneys at law, on Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora.

"While we worked together, Mr. Wirtz certainly displayed a certain zest for life. He developed a desire for skydiving which turned into a hobby that he zealously pursued. I am aware that Mr. Wirtz has branched out from skydiving and has pursued his interests in base jumping, which, unfortunately, led to his recent arrest," writes Brouch.

"I know from speaking with Mr. Wirtz that he genuinely regrets the decision he made to jump from the construction site of the new Will County Courthouse. I fully recognize that the Will County State's Attorney's Office needs to take a public position that discourages this type of behavior since it is possible that other individuals with fewer technical skills than Mr. Wirtz could attempt similar activities without successfully completing this attempt."

Brouch ends his two-page letter by advising, "I know Mr. Wirtz and I know that he will keep his word and that no similar activities will take place in the future."

A pretrial conference in the case of Adam Wirtz is set for next week, Wednesday, July 10, in Will County Courtroom 314.