Trial scheduled in Emporium arson case
Woman allegedly recruited her son to burn her house

An Emporium woman accused of recruiting her son to burn a Bradford home in an insurance fraud scheme is headed for trial next month.

Key witness against the defendant, 47-year-old Debra Miczo, could be her son, Terry Bornheimer of Smethport. Bornheimer, 20, has already pleaded guilty and has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution.

Charges stem from a fire in August 2006 that destroyed a home owned by Miczo and spread to three other residences, leaving 11 people homeless.

Bornheimer is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to arson, reckless endangerment and assisting an act of arson.

Public Defender Ron Langella, Bornheimer's attorney, said his client had no intention of having the fire spread to three nearby homes.

Miczo, who is represented by Port Allegany attorney Harold B. Fink, is scheduled for trial Oct. 1-4 before Warren County Judge Paul Millin. However, should the trial be postponed, it will be held starting Oct. 29 before McKean County Judge John Yoder.

She is charged with several arson counts, solicitation of arson and placing others in danger of injury.

McKean County Assistant District Attorney Christa Schott is expected to call a witness to testify that, while in Emporium, he heard the suspects discussing a plan to torch the home. The witness, Benjamin Marsiglio, also claims he heard Bornheimer confirm that he started the fire after the pair returned from Bradford about three hours later.

Marsiglio quoted Bornheimer describing how he set the fire in a way that would make investigators blame vagrants. Police also allegedly have videotaped evidence of Miczo's car being in the neighborhood at the time the fire was set.