This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Embattled former Utah Attorney General John Swallow has a new lawyer.

Documents filed Thursday in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court show Stephen McCaughey will withdraw from the case because Swallow has hired new counsel.

Local defense attorney Scott C. Williams also filed a notice with the courts Thursday, saying he will represent the former GOP officeholder. No reasons for the change are cited in the documents.

Swallow, 53, has pleaded not guilty to 14 felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with a bribery and corruption scandal stemming from his time in the attorney general's office. The allegations include counts of money laundering, misuse of public funds, obstruction of justice and falsifying government records.

His trial is set to start April 5. If he is convicted, Swallow could spend up to 30 years in prison.

Swallow and his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, were charged in July 2014 after criminal investigations by county, state and federal authorities. A Utah House panel and the lieutenant governor's office also conducted inquiries.

Handpicked by Shurtleff, Swallow, who is being prosecuted by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, glided to a lopsided electoral victory in 2012. He resigned amid the scandal in late 2013 after less than a year in office.

Shurtleff, also a Republican, was first elected in 2000 and was Utah's top cop for 12 years.

He has pleaded not guilty to seven felonies and misdemeanors, including counts of counts of accepting prohibited gifts, obstruction of justice, official misconduct and bribery to dismiss a criminal proceeding.

Shurtleff's trial is set to start May 10. The case is being handled by the Davis County Attorney's Office.