The trial against the Navy sailor accused of setting a fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego began Monday morning. Seaman Recruit Ryan Sawyer Mays, 21, faces charges of arson and willful hazarding of a vessel for allegedly setting the blaze that began July 12, 2020, and burned for several days while the warship was docked at Naval Base San Diego. Prosecutors have alleged that Mays was "disgruntled" with the Navy after dropping out of the SEAL training program. Monday, Seaman Mays told the judge he has chosen a bench trial and wants a military judge, rather than a jury, to determine his fate. "It was a mischievous act of defiance gone wrong," was the first sentence of the prosecution's opening statement. Mays has denied any role in the fire, though other sailors previously testified to seeing him enter the ship's "Lower V" area -- where investigators say the fire originated -- just prior to the blaze breaking out. One sailor who escorted Mays to the brig after he was arrested in connection with the blaze alleged Mays said, "I'm guilty. I guess I did it ... it had to be done." MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/crime/trial-navy-sailor-uss-bonhomme-richard-arson/509-ddb6f921-21f6-4bec-99e1-becd1086b2ee