Kenneth D. Brown, a 47-year-old Champaign man charged with one count of residential arson, entered a plea of not guilty during his court appearance Tuesday.

Charges came after Brown was accused of setting a fire that created $140,000 worth of damage to the home of his 43-year-old girlfriend, Serlena Britt at 900 W. Beardsley Ave. on May 28.

Britt, her son and three minors who live at the residence were not home when the fire was set. Britt’s puppy, however, was killed during the fire.

Firefighters and police suspect arson because the garage was completely set on fire and a separate fire had been ignited inside the house, said Champaign Fire Department spokeswoman Dena Schumacher.

Brown is scheduled to begin his felony pretrial July 29 at 9 a.m. in courtroom B.