ARSONIST SENTENCED

A Cameron County woman was sentenced to at least three years in state prison for conspiring with her son to set a fire that ended up destroying four Bradford homes in August 2006.

Debra Miczo, convicted by a jury of arson, solicitation and other charges, was sentenced last week by McKean County Judge John Yoder. Prosecutors claimed that she persuaded her son, Terry Bornheimer, to set a fire at a vacant house Miczo owned on Kennedy Street. The blaze spread to three adjacent homes and left 11 people homeless.

District Attorney John Pavlock told Judge Yoder the defendant's motive was obvious: to reduce her assets and qualify for more public assistance.

But Miczo's court-appointed attorney, Harold B. Fink of Port Allegany, said his client intends to appeal and is maintaining her innocence.

In addition to her prison term, Miczo, 48, was ordered to make restitution of about $260,000.

During her trial, Miczo pinned the blame on her son, claiming that he hatched the plot.

Bornheimer, 20, pleaded guilty to charges of arson and acting as an accomplice, through an arrangement worked out in return for his testimony against Miczo. He was sentenced to 16 months to four years in state prison.