A preliminary hearing was continued Monday for 27-year-old Christopher Cimini in the Feb. 21 fire at the headquarters of Philadelphia International Records.
Authorities say Cimini appeared to be extremely intoxicated in surveillance video they say shows him breaking into the downtown building. Investigators say he may have thought he was somewhere else.
Philadelphia International Records is home to producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who are credited with creating the lush acoustics of 1960s and '70s soul music that became known as the Sound of Philadelphia.
At the hearing, Gamble told reporters, "I want to see him prosecuted like anyone else would be prosecuted for burning and being and arsonist."
The hearing was rescheduled for March 23. There was a problem converting key surveillance video from the crime scene to a format that could be played in court.
Gamble says the damage is in the millions.
"I want to see who this person is, I want to see why he did it," Gamble said. "The excuse that he gave a few days ago about him being intoxicated or drunk? I'm not going for that, I don't believe that."
"I don't believe you can be that drunk," Gamble continued.
Cimini's family and lawyer were also in court, hoping to secure the 28-year-old iron worker's release.
"He was extremely intoxicated, possibly four times the legal limit for alcohol. Other than that, there's nothing more I can say," said defense attorney Gina Capuano.
"He's sorry, he doesn't know what happened. He can't remember anything," said Cimin's wife, Deanna. "He misses us."
Cimini was ordered back to prison, though his bail was reduced to $50,000.
