A change of lawyers has prompted a change in the schedule for a Topeka man charged with robbery and firearms violations in Pawnee County, Nebraska.

Michael Engstrom was scheduled for jury trial Monday on charges stemming from an armed robbery at a gas station in Pawnee last February. He did not appear in court.

Instead, his appointed lawyer, Jeffery Pickens of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, moved to withdraw from the case behind closed doors. That motion was granted by District Judge Daniel Bryan.

Judge Bryan named a private attorney to replace Pickens.

Peter K. Blakeslee of Lincoln, Nebraska has now taken the case.  He will be paid by the county.

Judge Bryan rescheduled the jury trial to September 12 at 9am. That will almost certainly conflict with Engstrom’s trial in Johnson County on related charges. That trial is scheduled September 9. Officials say that so far, neither trial date has changed.

Judge Bryan also vacated some pre-trial orders filed in advance of the trial scheduled Monday.  According to court records, Engstrom must now be restrained for all court appearances.  Officials say Blakeslee could likely file similar motions to prevent a jury from seeing the defendant in orange, jail-issued clothing and shackles.

Engstrom is charged in Pawnee County with robbery, use of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In Johnson County, he faces 20 counts, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. Those charges stem from a high-speed pursuit in which shots were fired at law officers shortly after the robbery February 13. (click here for more)

Engstrom’s wife Jamie has pleaded guilty and been sentenced on related charges in both counties.  (find more here)

Both defendants also face murder charges for a killing that same day in Topeka, Kansas.  Michael Engstrom is also charged in federal court with a firearms violation.