EMPORIUM ARSONIST SENTENCED
Defendant's mother faces trial Oct. 28

An Emporium man is headed to state prison for his admitted role in an August 2006 fire than destroyed four homes in Bradford.

Terry Bornheimer, 20, will spend between 16 and 48 months in prison. He'll be able to cut his sentence if he agrees to attend a boot camp.

Bornheimer pleaded guilty to arson and conspiracy to commit arson, telling authorities that he consented to his mother's plan to torch a vacant house she owned in an attempt to collect an insurance settlement.

His mother is 47-year-old Debra Miczo, also of Emporium, who is scheduled to go on trial Oct. 28.

Defense lawyer Ron Langella insisted that his client had no intention of having the fire spread to adjacent properties on Kennedy Street, destroying them all and leaving 11 people homeless.

Several victims were called by District Attorney John Pavlock to testify at Bornheimer's sentencing hearing before McKean County Judge John Yoder. They spoke of their lives being at risk, as well as respiratory problems from smoke inhalation and other consequences of the fire.

Langella told the judge his client set the fire at his mother's suggestion to help the family cope with financial problems.

Miczo, who is being defended by attorney Harold B. Fink, is charged with five counts of arson, three counts of criminal mischief, and one count each of solicitation of arson and liability for the conduct of another.

Judge Yoder also ordered Bornheimer to pay restitution to the victims, which will be in excess of $500,000 once all of the claims are filed.