March 29, 2024
Local News

Joliet Attorney Chuck Bretz found not guilty of DUI, obstructing officer

A judge found Joliet attorney Chuck Bretz not guilty of driving under the influence and obstructing an officer in Lockport.

However, Judge Dave Carlson found Bretz guilty of speeding when he was driving through the city on Valentine's Day. Lockport Police Officer James Truhlar pulled over Bretz when he saw him speeding in the 700 block of State Street and Bretz was later arrested on the charges of speeding, DUI and obstructing an officer.

Carlson’s decision followed a bench trial on Wednesday afternoon. Carlson heard testimony from Truhlar and another officer, and viewed video that captured Bretz's arrest.

Carlson said he found Bretz not guilty of DUI because no field sobriety test was conducted on him, there was nothing unusual about his driving other than him speeding and Bretz showed no physical signs he was impaired.

In the video of the traffic stop, Truhlar asked Bretz if he had anything to drink and Bretz said he had one glass of wine. Truhlar testified in court that he saw Bretz had watery, bloodshot eyes and he could smell an odor of alcohol on his breath.

Bretz told Truhlar he was an attorney and former prosecutor, and that Anthony Marzano, chief administrator of the Will County 911 Emergency Telephone System, was one of the passengers in his car.

“We’re very responsible people,” Bretz said.

Truhlar asked Bretz to recite the alphabet from D to T but Bretz refused to complete the test twice and said that if Truhlar was going to ticket him for speeding, he should do so.

“I’m not under the influence. I’m not playing that game,” Bretz said.

Bretz repeatedly and at times angrily refused Truhlar’s commands to exit his car. Bretz said he would not do so unless he was under arrest.

“I know my rights. I’m not stepping out of the car,” Bretz said.

Bretz left his car when he was told he was under arrest and said he was not under the influence of alcohol.

DuPage County assistant state attorneys Michael Paup and Patrick Miner argued Bretz refused to leave his car at least 14 times and that he was refusing to do so because he knew he was being investigated for a DUI offense.

“The defendant’s conduct in this case is the only thing that obstructed the investigation,” Miner said.

Bretz’s attorney Neil Patel argued Bretz was not hindering the officers and he was willing to speak with them while he was still in his car. Patel said Bretz has a right to refuse the tests Truhlar requested and Truhlar did not tell Bretz to step out of the car for a field sobriety test.

“He never tells Mr. Bretz to do some activity to further the DUI investigation,” Patel said.

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver covers crime and courts for The Herald-News