JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 19-year-old Mt. Vernon man who dismissed his attorney just days before his scheduled murder trial has had a change of heart.

Roderick S. Oats Jr., is charged in Jefferson County court with three counts first degree murder in connection with the July 2017 shooting death of Carlos Johnson.

Last week Oats fired his court appointed attorney Scott Quinn and decided to proceed pro se to jury trial, which was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

At a final pre-trial hearing last week, a defense motion to continue the jury trial was denied and the judge instead confirmed for jury selection to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The following day Oats filed a motion firing his public defender and requesting to proceed with the trial as his own counsel, which was granted.

On Monday Oats appeared in court pro se, this time requesting the court again appoint him an attorney. The court again appointed Quinn to represent Oats, but this time granted a continuance on the trial. The case is now scheduled for a May 9 status hearing.

Oats remains in the Jefferson County Jail where he has been held since his July arrest with bail set at $300,000.

Prior to his change of heart Monday, Oats had been given all items of discovery in his murder case, along with contact information for a private investigator that had been retained by Quinn. To further allow him to prepare for trial, the court had allowed Oats one hour of phone privileges and access to a computer to watch any and all Dds that are in discovery.

Oats’ jury trial was just one of two Jefferson County jury trials scheduled for Tuesday with a pro se defense.

Rodney Moore, of Mt. Vernon, is charged with Class 2 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and Class 3 felony possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

He was arrested in August 2017 and has been representing himself since early in the case and his trial has been confirmed to begin with jury selection Tuesday.