A trial date has now been set for next year in the forcible touching and sexual harassment case against a Port Jervis building inspector.

David Rivera is accused of forcibly touching and sexually harassing two women on the job - a community member and his former secretary.

He was charged in 2019. 

Sources close to the investigation said Rivera was expected to take a plea deal but that didn’t happen, and a trial date was instead set for May 31.

Rivera's defense attorney, John Ingrassia, released a statement to News 12 saying his client rejected the prosecution's offer to settle the case that included orders of protection for parties involved in the prosecution and pleading guilty to harassment. 

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office tells News 12 that it has been ready to try the case since it began but that the COVID-19 pandemic, court congestion and the unavailability of defense attorneys caused delays.

Rivera was found not guilty last year of harassment in a separate case after an incident at a bar between his wife and former secretary’s daughter.