Accused of sexually assaulting a waitress trainee, the owner of the award-winning Colorado Springs restaurant Carlos’ Bistro is scheduled to go to trial in September after pleading not guilty in court Thursday.

Carlos Echeandia, 62, allegedly sexually assaulted the woman inside the restaurant off 21st Street during her training after encouraging her to consume sample alcoholic drinks on an empty stomach, The Gazette previously reported.

At trial, a jury will decide if he is guilty of sexual assault against a helpless victim, sexual assault and sexual contact without consent.

The woman told police that she knew Echeandia from church, and Echeandia offered her a job as a bartender at the bistro after learning she had been unemployed for several months.

Echeandia and his defense attorneys, Josh Tolini and Jeff Barker, have “steadfastly” denied the allegations following the defendant’s arrest in early December 2025. The arrest came after a several-month investigation by police.

A Colorado Springs Police Department detective alleged in Echeandia’s arrest papers that the owner of the fine dining eatery admitted that “it” was his fault, explaining that he felt terrible and he can typically “control” himself when he is around “pretty ladies.”

Some of the alleged comments were made during a phone call with the woman, which the investigator was eavesdropping on with the woman’s permission.

Echeandia acknowledged that he made some of the statements during the call when he was asked about it by the detective. But he claimed that he said it only to make the victim feel better and that he is a happily married man, according to the arrest papers.

Dressed in a brown checkered sport coat and blue jeans, Echeandia appeared out of custody in an El Paso County courtroom Thursday to reaffirm his innocence to Judge Catherine Mitchell Helton.

His trial is scheduled for Sept. 14, and a motions hearing is set for July 30.

Echeandia and his defense counsel declined to comment Thursday outside of the courtroom.

Carlos’ Bistro is still open and operating as usual.