WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- The man accused of setting a Watertown apartment complex on fire last year was back in court. Carlos Rivera was in Jefferson County court for a pre-trial conference on Tuesday.

Rivera is charged with several counts of arson and assault. Police say Rivera intentionally set the Victoria Apartments on fire last December. Rivera is from the New York City area. He says he is innocent and wants the case to go to trial.

"It's their burden of proof and it really never leaves, so it's not trying to be invasive but that's their burden of proof. He's innocent until a jury of his peers find otherwise and we don't believe that they're going to, we believe he'll be found innocent," said Eric Swartz, Defense Attorney.

Rivera's trial is scheduled to start Monday, August 4th in Jefferson County Court.