Former Illinois football player Derrick McPhearson’s trial has been pushed back to August 20 in order to allow the State’s Attorney’s office the ability to present all available witnesses. The delay stems from McPhearson’s decision to fire his attorney Mark Lipton and hire Robert Kirchner as his new counsel.

McPhearson currently faces four counts of residential burglary and two counts of theft over $300 due to an incident on Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, March 2. He pled not guilty to those charges when he first appeared in court on March 5. McPhearson was kicked off of the football team by Coach Ron Zook following his arrest.

Co-defendant Jody Ellis, former football player who allegedly participated in the burglaries with McPhearson, is expected to accept a plea deal in early June that will have him work out a four year sentence through four months of boot camp.