Prominent Joliet Attorney Arrested on Domestic Battery Charges

MINOOKA, IL — Chuck Bretz, a well-known criminal defense attorney from Joliet, was arrested Saturday afternoon during the Minooka Halloween parade for allegedly beating a young family member with a belt. Witnesses reported the incident, prompting police to respond to the downtown area near West Mondamin and Wabena Street, according to Minooka Police Chief Justin Meyer.

Police arrived after several witnesses claimed to have seen Bretz using a belt on the child. Chief Meyer explained that the police were initially unable to locate Bretz at the scene, but they tracked him down by mid-afternoon. He was arrested on charges of domestic battery.

Bretz, who lives in Minooka, was later taken to the Grundy County Jail in Morris. However, authorities there declined to book him, leading Minooka police to drive him back to their facility for processing, where he was issued a criminal citation and released.

According to Chief Meyer, Bretz is scheduled to appear in court at the Grundy County Courthouse on Monday for the domestic battery charges. Fortunately, the 4-year-old child involved in the incident was not seriously injured.

This is not the first time Bretz has faced legal issues. In February 2020, he was pulled over for speeding by the Lockport police, which led to charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and obstructing a police officer. After a bench trial, he was found not guilty of DUI but guilty of speeding.

Bretz remains a prominent figure in the legal community, frequently representing defendants in high-profile murder cases in Will County.