JOHNSONBURG — Anthony Karl Milliard has been charged in district court for lying under oath before a jury during his father’s arson trial in September.
Milliard was a key witness for the Commonwealth in the arson trial for his father, Francis Anthony “Tony” Milliard.
Prior to Francis Milliard’s trial in September, Anthony Milliard pled guilty to setting fire to a West Main Street home in Ridgway in 2012 but maintained in statements to police that he was ordered to set the fire by his father.
On Aug. 29, 2012, Anthony Milliard testified at a preliminary hearing for Francis Milliard before Magisterial District Judge George A. “Tony” King.
At that hearing, Anthony Milliard testified that Francis Milliard had given him a container of gasoline and ordered him to light Michelle Parks’ home in Ridgway on fire. Anthony Milliard had accidently set the wrong house on fire as he set fire to a home belonging to one of Parks’ neighbors.
However, at Francis Milliard’s trial, Anthony Milliard changed his story and stated that he acted alone in setting fire to the home on West Main Street.
He testified that Francis Milliard had nothing to do with the incident and that he had dropped his father off at a friend’s house before lighting the fire.
At the trial, Anthony Milliard could not identify the friend or the location of the friend’s residence.
Anthony Milliard testified that he set fire to a random house.
Ultimately, the jury found Francis Milliard guilty of multiple charges, including arson death or bodily injury, a felony of the first degree; conspiracy to commit arson, a felony of the first degree; criminal solicitation to commit arson, a felony of the first degree; arson inhabited building or structure, a felony of the first degree; reckless burning or exploding, a felony of the third degree; criminal mischief, a felony of the third degree; criminal mischief, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor of the second degree.
By finding Francis Milliard guilty of these charges, the jury made the determination that Francis did have a part in the arson and that Anthony Milliard did not act alone.
Cpl. Greg Agosti of the Ridgway-based Pennsylvania State Police said on Wednesday that law enforcement officials have substantial evidence that Anthony Milliard’s original testimony in 2012 was the correct version.
He said this story was corroborated by other witnesses that testified at Francis Milliard’s trial, including Thomas Prechtel, who placed Francis Milliard in the vehicle that was driven to the scene of the arson.
Agosti added the jury was charged with finding the facts of the case, and the jury did not find anything to corroborate the story that Anthony Milliard testified to during the trial.
For Francis Milliard to be found guilty by the jury, Anthony Milliard’s testimony had to have been found to be false by the jury.
Given the evidence accumulated since the investigation began in 2012, Anthony Milliard has been charged with a felony charge of perjury; a felony charge of hindering apprehension or persecution-providing false information to law enforcement officials; and a misdemeanor charge of false swearing during an official proceeding.
Anthony Milliard is currently serving a four to 10-year sentence imposed May 30, 2014 by President Judge Richard A. Masson following a proposed negotiated guilty plea, which included the 2012 arson plea.
Anthony Milliard is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James L. Martin at 1 p.m. Jan. 18.
Online court documents do not list an attorney for Anthony Milliard. The Commonwealth will be represented in the case by the Elk County District Attorney’s Office.
