By JOHN MANGALONZO

jmangalonzo@thehawkeye.com

Attorneys have hinted there may be negotiations taking place in the case involving a Burlington teen accused of escaping a halfway house, violating his probation on a conspiracy to commit a forcible felony conviction and one other armed robbery.

An attorney for Michael DuJuan Hicks, 17, was granted a continuance for his escape trial, a proceeding that was supposed to take place today. It was set for April 6, the same day the teen will go to trial for one count of first-degree robbery.

Hicks' probation violation complaint will be heard March 22, the same day pretrial conferences will be held on his other two criminal charges.

"Because of the possibility there may be a resolution," said Hicks' attorney, James Beres, when he asked District Court Judge Mary Ann Brown for the delay Monday.

Hicks was admitted into the Burlington Men's Residential Facility July 16, six days after a judge reconsidered a 10-year prison term handed to him in June when he was convicted of conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in connection with the armed robbery of two people in October of 2008.

Officials at the facility allege he escaped in August.

He also is charged with first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.