Reported by Patrick Bell

A request for a change of venue for the trial of a former Ohio State University football player led to a fireworks Friday at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Not only did a judge chastise Maurice Clarett for being late for his own hearing, but a heated argument also broke out between defense attorneys and prosecutors.

Clarett arrived nearly an hour late for the proceeding, as Judge David Fais noted.

"I can't wait 45 to 50 minutes for each individual person to come into my courtroom, Judge Fais told Clarett.

I... I apologize, Clarett responded.

One of his attorneys offered an explanation.

"His daughter was born 17 days ago. She was premature. And he had to go up there to get her, attorney Michael Hoague said.

The pre-trial motion hearing came 10 days before Clarett's trial date. The former Ohio State football star is charged with armed robbery after a couple was help up downtown early the morning of January 1.

Defense attorneys want the trial moved on grounds of pre-trial publicity.

"Mr. Clarett has been the subject of adverse publicity in both local print and broadcast media, Hoague contended.

Judge Fais denied the motion. Moments later, fireworks erupted when defense attorneys asked to see call records from a cell phone allegedly stolen by Clarett.

"It's a cell phone that was taken! There's got to be cell phone records! I can't believe they haven't looked at that to see if it was used after the crime!" exclaimed Hoague.

Prosecutors fired back at the defense.

"I'm telling you, we didn't (check the records), assistant prosecutor Tim Mitchell retorted. That tells me you're calling me a liar. Is that what you're saying?  Because I would really like some clarification on this," Mitchell continued.

The hearing ended a short time later. Clarett told 10TV he wasn't phased by Fridays outcome, saying he still thought he could get a fair trial.

"I think I can, after I heard everything today," Clarett said.

His attorneys, however, were still fuming.

"What are they hiding? What are they hiding? Hoague asked rhetorically. You do this investigation and not find out if the phone was used after the robbery?  Come on!"

A status conference -- a meeting with both sets of attorneys and the judge -- will be held Wednesday and the trial itself scheduled to begin Monday August 14.