A court hearing has been scheduled for Monday to set a new trial date for Steven Santiago Maese.
The 31-year-old defendant is charged with felony counts of exploiting a prostitute, money laundering and racketeering. Until recently, Maese operated The Doll House, an escort service.
On Monday, he was arrested on a new accusation of tampering with a witness in the case.
At a hearing Tuesday, defense attorney Ed Brass had requested a delay in the trial and a change of venue because of the publicity surrounding the case.
Brass also said he likely will be called by Maese's defense attorney in the tampering case to testify. Third District Judge Randall Skanchy refused Tuesday to grant a delay or change the trial location. Brass then made a request this morning to withdraw, which was granted.
Alicia Cook, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, said the withdrawal was based on differences between Brass and Maese.
The case became high-profile after veteran prosecutor Kent Morgan was fired for allegedly leaking confidential information to Maese, a friend who helped on his unsuccessful campaign to win the Republican nomination for district attorney in 2006. Morgan denies the accusation and is appealing his dismissal.
And on Tuesday, Kelly Ann Booth dropped out of the race for a seat in the Utah Legislature amid questions about Maese, her former fiance. Booth has said she was unaware until recently that Maese ran The Doll House.
