Revealed: Chuck Bretz Contract In Izzy's Murder Case

JOLIET, IL - When authorities hauled away Patrick Gleason after the March 9 cold-blooded murder of bartender Danny Rios inside Izzy's on Theodore Street, there was a lot running through the 55-year-old murder defendant's mind. Gleason knew he was going to jail. He knew he would face multiple felonies. He knew he would be charged with murder. He knew he needed a lawyer, but not just any Will County lawyer.

"The ward expressed his desire that attorney Chuck Bretz represent him," states court documents in Gleason's recently opened probate file at the Will County Courthouse.

Will County's court system, namely Judge Jeff Allen, has appointed a temporary guardian for Gleason's estate to handle the murder defendant's financial affairs. Court documents indicate Gleason has a large sum of money, more than $200,000 in his estate.

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Gleason's temporary guardian, Colleen Wengler of the Wengler Law Firm, recently petitioned the court to tap into Gleason's bank accounts "in the amount of $40,000 to the law office of Chuck Bretz & Associates."

A copy of the signed contract involving Bretz's defending Gleason on his first-degree murder case is part of the probate file at the courthouse. The document shows Bretz is being paid a flat $40,000 fee for handling Gleason's murder defense.

Gleason's probate lawyer stated in court documents "the undersigned does verily believe that it could be in the best interest of the ward to retain legal counsel to zealously represent in the criminal case."

The probate judge agreed.

Now the Bretz Law Firm in downtown Joliet is $40,000 richer.

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File image of Chuck Bretz via Chuck Bretz & Associates