OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – A handwritten letter from the suspect in last year’s fatal standoff in Neenah wants another new attorney.
FOX 11 obtained the 3-page letter written by Brian Flatoff, which was also delivered Thursday to Winnebago County Judge John Jorgensen.
Flatoff faces 16 felony counts for allegedly starting the hostage situation in December at Eagle Nation Cycles. The charges include two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly firing at two police officers; one count of conspiracy to commit murder – for trying to lure another person to the scene; and with felony murder, as prosecutors contend the standoff led to Michael Funk’s death.
He is scheduled to return to court May 16 for a plea hearing.
Flatoff says he has been dissatisfied with all three public defender attorneys. He says his current attorney, Amanda Skorr, does not have the time necessary to devote to his case.
He wrote:
“She said I have 0% chance of winning my case and if my goal is to get out my story, I can do that at sentencing. She said the only way to get my medical records allowed at trial is to change my plea to (not guilty by reason of insanity) on the next hearing on 5-16-16. I don’t believe that, in fact I think the district attorney’s office is purposely screwing up my case, and know it may mean the rest of the my life in prison. … A defense attorney I figure should defend me, not help convict me,” he wrote. “At this point I feel I need to ask again for an experienced, competent attorney that has the time to properly represent me at trial… Please instruct the public defender’s office to give me adequate and competent experienced counsel, not a plea bargain attorney.”
In his response, Judge Jorgensen denied Flatoff’s request of a new attorney.
“If you have concerns about how your case is being handled, you need to discuss this with your attorney or the public defender’s office. This court has no authority to direct your attorney to handle the case in a certain manner,” the judge said.
With the plea hearing approaching, Flatoff urged the judge to act to save the courts time down the road.
“It will be too late to say anything at sentencing and I don’t want to have to try to fight this from prison in endless appeals. If properly represented, I believe I can be found not guilty by a jury once people know what happened, once the real truth comes out,” Flatoff said, without offering any specifics as to what he means by that.
Besides noting the law would require him to share the letter with Attorney Skorr, the prosecution and place it in the case file for the public to see, Judge Jorgensen also offered some advice to Flatoff:
“You advised that it is normally not in your interest to broadcast particular aspects of your case in an open letter. This may be used against in future court proceedings and provides the other side a look at your defense. Please talk to your attorney,” the judge concluded.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said Friday that the Neenah police officers acted within the law when they shot and killed Funk.
