I Retained An Attorney To Represent Me, But Now He Has Been Charged With A Serious Felony

On 11/07/2024 I signed a contract for $7500 for a texas attorney to represent me in my misdemeanor case in Galveston county. My next setting is 02/12/2025. I paid him 2,500 up front and still owe the balance of $5000.

I just found out that my attorney was charged with "engaging in criminal activity" and another felony only days after I signed th contract with them.

His charge and case is very public (over 200,000 views/ comments on local news YouTube clips).

I feel that it is not in my best interest to continue using him as my attorney in my case, due to the conflict of interest he probably has with his own legal predicament, and also how the judge/ DA will likely not favor him because they surely know all about what he did.

I am certain I am going to terminate our attorney client relationship, but is there any way I can nullify our contract so I won't owe him the outstanding balance? I have come to terms with the idea of losing my $2500 deposit. I guess that is split milk at this point.

Btw... I can't afford to start over with a new lawyer, so my plan is to go to my next court setting and request a motion to substitute council and request a public defender after I apply for indigency.