Brylski goes pro se in libel suit

PHILLIPS — The defendant in a libel suit filed by Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt has released his legal counsel and will represent himself, according to records filed at Price County Circuit Court.

Appointed Circuit Court Judge Knox-Bauer granted an order on May 2 to allow attorney Paul Augustyn, of O’Melia, Schiek & McEldowney, S.C., to withdraw as counsel of record for Brylski. Brylski filed a motion on April 21 to inform the court that he no longer desired the services of his attorney and preferred to represent himself as attorney pro se in the case.

Brylski also filed a motion to change the court venue on April 19. There is not yet a response filed by Schmidt’s attorney or the court.

In the motion, Brylski alleges that Schmidt has appeared at hearings in uniform and wearing his duty belt, which in his view would create an atmosphere of intimidation and influence. He also states that Schmidt, as a lifelong county resident and five-term sheriff, would make it difficult to seat a jury without them knowing him or he knowing the jury.

Brylsi said he feels disadvantaged as a five year resident of the county.

Brylski, a retired Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office deputy, now lives in the Lac Sault Dore area. He ran as a write-in candidate against Schmidt, who was otherwise unopposed in his successful reelection bid for a fifth term of office on Nov. 8, 2022.

Schmidt filed an intentional tort case on Oct. 6, 2022, alleging that Brylski published libelous statements against Schmidt with the intent to affect voting. The suit alleges that comments posted on the “Brylski for Price County Sheriff” Facebook account, and a non-election account, “Justice for Shelly Hansen Missing People Unsolved Crime Victims Northern WI,” served no purpose other than to damage the reputation of Schmidt.

Brylski denies the allegations in the suit and said previously that his online comments regarding Schmidt were based on information from credible sources and with information from his investigation of Schmidt and the Shelly Hansen cold case.

Judge Knox-Bauer denied a Brylski motion to dismiss the case in March 2023. Attempts at mediation with Schmidt’s attorney, Robert Mihelich, were not successful as reported to the court in December 2023.

The trial is currently set for Nov. 4-7 at the Price County Courthouse.