Cueva, Prestia and their companies also were charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. They pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Cueva and Prestia were released on bail.

An attorney for Cueva, Cesar de Castro, described what happened as an accident and said his client mourns Moncayo "but does not bear criminal responsibility for his death."

Attorney Ron Fischetti, representing Harco Construction, called Moncayo's death a "tragic accident" for which his client isn't responsible.

"There will not be a settlement or a plea in this case," he said. "We wish to go to trial as quickly as possible, and we are sure we will be vindicated."

Lawyers for Prestia and Sky didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. A woman who answered the phone at Sky had no comment.

Building owners also had no comment. Construction was halted in April but has started again.