Jurors likely to deliberate Friday in Ligonier Township arson trial

Jury deliberations are expected to begin Friday in the arson trial of a Laughlintown man accused of torching his home last year in Ligonier Township.

Prosecutors rested their case Thursday against Brian McVicker, 55, accused of setting fire to a century-old two-story home he lived in for free in exchange for serving as a caretaker for the shuttered Washington Furnace Inn located on the same property.

McVicker is charged with two counts of arson and single charges of risking catastrophe, burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief and a drug offense in connection with the Jan. 15, 2019, fire.

Authorities contend McVicker admitted to the arson both to investigators and while he sat alone in the back of a police car as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze. Jurors on Thursday saw video from a police vehicle during which McVicker said he set the fire and worried that in doing so, killed his cat.

Ligonier Valley Police officer Shawn Knepper testified he found McVicker in front of the burning house with a lighter in hand.

“A lot of what he said he wasn’t making much sense,” Knepper told jurors. “In his admission he said to me he lit the fire and stayed inside until it was too hot.”

Michael Steele, of Johnstown, said he stopped at the fire scene while driving home when he encountered McVicker. Steele testified McVicker claimed two menwere attempting to kill him.

“I got in my car, left and called 911. I said that whoever responded should be careful because this guy isn’t right,” Steele said.

Carl Roberts, a deputy fire marshal with the Pennsylvania State Police, said an investigation indicated the blaze began inside the home’s front door through the use of an accelerant. But Roberts testified he could not say what specifically was used to ignite the fire.

Evidence collected at the scene was never tested. Knepper testified that evidence, along with McVicker’s lighter and suspected methamphetamines found in his pocket, were misplaced during a consolidation last year of Ligonier borough and township police forces. The lighter and drugs were never recovered, he said.

Defense attorney Tim Andrews said McVicker is not expected to testify.

Andrews previously said prosecutors cannot prove McVicker intentionally set the fire and is expected to argue to jurors that his admission should not be believed.