WASHINGTON COUNTY — A 41-year-old rural Centralia man charged with firing shots last month at Centralia and DuQuoin police appeared in Washington County court Tuesday with a new attorney high-profile at his side.

Nathan Johnson was initially represented by Centralia attorney Eddie Veltman. However, St. Louis attorney Scott Rosenbloom has now been entered as Johnson’s defense council and is expected to make a first appearance Tuesday afternoon.

One of St. Louis’ top defense attorneys, Rosenbloom has occupied headlines across the country as the defense council representing high profile clients such as Rams star running back Marshall Faulk, and Rams defensive end Leonard Little.

Johnson is charged with half-dozen Class X felony charges in Washington and Perry counties in connection with firing shots at police officers Tuesday morning in DuQuoin at his home on Irvington Road in Centralia.

He’s being held in jail on a combined $6 million bail — $1 million in Washington County and $5 million in Perry County.

Two of the Perry County charges accuse Johnson with two counts attempted first degree-murder, one for aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer’s vehicle, one for aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer, and one aggravated battery with a firearm for injuries caused to a DuQuoin officer.

Each Class X charge is punishable by between 20 and 60 years in prison if convicted and Johnson is extended term eligible.

Johnson is accused of taking DuQuoin police on a pursuit in which he reportedly fired shots at officers, striking the police chief’s squad car.

The pursuit continued into Centralia, where he reportedly held off officers from multiple agencies in an hours-long standoff at his home in Irvington Road.

He reportedly fired multiple shots at officers during the standoff, striking one Centralia police squad car.

Johnson surrendered and was taken into custody.  There were no injuries reported during the entire incident.