The prosecution of Owen Roberts took another unusual turn Tuesday, when the St Joe man told a judge he wanted to fire his public defender and represent himself, just one day after that lawyer won him a new judge in a related case.

Roberts appeared Tuesday via video before Associate Judge Rebecca Spencer on charges that were refiled after being dismissed last week. He’s accused of shooting two men in May of last year. The separate criminal cases spring from a preliminary hearing last week in which the charges relating to one of the victims were dismissed.

The case that did get certified for circuit court last week is in a holding pattern as well, after Assistant Public Defender Mitchel Jenkins filed for a change of judge. That motion was granted, and the case awaits reassignment.

Jenkins was the defense lawyer during the preliminary hearing as well. But Tuesday morning Roberts said he wanted to fire Jenkins and represent himself.

Judge Spencer strongly urged Roberts not to attempt to defend himself. He is charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. The assault charge is a class-a felony, and carries a maximum punishment of life in prison.

The judge told him to file a new application to the Public Defender’s Office, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, and scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing docket call August 8 at 1:30 pm.