STOCKTON — A Tracy couple accused of burning down their $1.2 million house to collect insurance money were in court for a few minutes this morning and will return in July, as there was no judge available for the estimated two-day preliminary hearing.

William Tipton, 31, and Frayba Tipton, 35, were in an attorney-packed Department 35 in Stockton this morning and will return to court at 8:30 a.m. July 8 in Stockton to start the hearing. William’s attorney, Kirk McAllister, said the San Joaquin County Superior Court didn’t have a judge available with the time to take on the full commitment.

William, wearing a dark blue pinstripe suit and sporting a bit of a bed-head hairdo, and Frayba, in a black dress, appeared in front of Judge Franklin Stephenson at about 9:15 a.m. and left after speaking with their attorneys outside the courtroom.

In October, the couple pleaded not guilty to charges of arson and insurance fraud. William has also been charged with grand theft, and Frayba faces a charge of forgery. The Tiptons are accused of setting fire to their Fagin Road home, valued at $1.2 million, in July 2008 to fraudulently collect insurance money.

The fire almost killed several firefighters, who immediately suspected arson, Tracy Fire Department Chief Germane Friends said in September.

Frayba used to own A+ Realty and Mortgage, and William formerly owned West Coast Realty and Mortgage in Tracy. William was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp after his arrest in September, but he was released because of overcrowding.

• Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4221 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.