Before the man charged with shooting at George Zimmerman in May is tried for attempted murder, he'll first stand trial for allegedly urinating on a neighbor's front porch.

Matthew Apperson was in court Thursday as a judge set his trial for disorderly conduct to begin Monday, Oct. 19.

The disorderly charge has kept Apperson in jail without bond since his arrest in July after the alleged incident, in which Winter Springs police said a witness heard Apperson "yelling obscenities" in the direction of a female neighbor's home and then saw him urinate on the neighbor's door.

Apperson had previously been granted bond on the attempted murder charge in the May 11 shooting. After the disorderly conduct charge, Apperson's bond was revoked.

Zimmerman was not hit by gunfire, but was treated for minor injuries from shattered glass after police said Apperson fired into Zimmerman's truck on Lake Mary Boulevard.

In court Thursday, Apperson's attorney, Michael LaFay, said he wants the disorderly conduct issue over so he can focus on the attempted murder case.

"If a jury finds Mr. Apperson not guilty of this misdemeanor — this ridiculous and frankly trumped-up charge — then I think he can be reset and put back at liberty, and given a chance to adequately defend himself on the main charge," LaFay said.

Apperson has claimed he shot at Zimmerman in self-defense, but Zimmerman took the stand in September, saying he was the only victim in the May incident.

"He said, 'Do you remember me, you fat [expletive]?'" Zimmerman said. "He had a short pause, and then he said, 'You owe me your life.'"

Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murder in 2013 for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin the year before, had a previous confrontation in 2014 with Apperson, who at the time claimed Zimmerman threatened to kill him. No charges were filed in that incident.


A bullet hole is seen in George Zimmerman's truck as it is towed away on May 11, 2015. (Sam McKinney, Staff)