`r&d' Works To Stretch The Audience

Andrew Urisko 
January 20, 1997 
Andrew S. Urisko Of River Street, Forty Fort, Died Monday At The Kingston 
Health Care Center, Kingston.

By RICK ROGERS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, January 23, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE -- It became clear after a court hearing Wednesday that
members of the same family are being blamed for a mercury spill and arson
attempt at the Dallas Senior High School. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scott Miller, 14, and another defendant pleaded guilty Wednesday to
criminal mischief charges in the mercury spill that resulted in the
cancellation of classes for 12 days and a cleanup cost of about $165,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Scott Miller's brothers, Michael, 18, and Brad, 15, face arson and related
charges stemming from an alleged attempt to start a fire in a high school
bathroom on Jan. 10. Jamie Houseknecht, 17, also has been charged in the
incident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Robert Miller of Dallas said he believes the School District is trying to
make "an example" of his sons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Miller would not specify how many other students he believes were involved
in the mercury spill and alleged arson. School officials have acknowledged
that numerous students knew about the spill. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Senior Judge Gifford Cappellini
accepted the guilty pleas from Scott Miller and Joseph Goryl, 14, in Orphans'
Court and found them delinquent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The judge could order the boys to pay restitution for the November spill
during their sentencing, which is scheduled for Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the request of the district attorney's office, Cappellini held off
sentencing Miller and Goryl until Dallas school district officials can voice
their positions before the judge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 School District officials did not attend the hearing because they were at
funeral services for district Superintendent Gerald Wycallis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the hearing, Robert Miller said he wished the judge would have
sentenced his son, Scott, during the hearing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I really don't think either boy had any idea of what they were getting
into when they did this," said Robert. "I want to get this over with so my son
can put this behind him and get on with his life." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Miller's son also wished the judge would have sentenced him, but for a
different reason. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They want to wait so that the school officials can come here and say a
bunch of bad stuff that I did in the past so that the judge will be harder on
me," Scott said. "It's not fair. The judge should have sentenced me today." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Assistant Superintendent Gilbert Griffiths said the mercury cleanup cost
the district about $165,000. The School District is waiting until the
resolution of the juvenile case before deciding whether the teenagers will be
expelled, Griffiths said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Miller and Goryl could be sentenced to reform school until they are 21, but
Carl Miers, Dallas Township police chief, doubts that will happen. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They'll probably get sentenced to probation, community service and have to
spend some weekends in the juvenile detention center. There might be
restitution, but where are these kids going to get $80,000?" Miers said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Charges of causing or risking a catastrophe and theft by unlawful taking
were dismissed against Miller and Goryl. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cappellini is scheduled to sentence the boys at 10 a.m. Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brothers Face Arson, Related Charges Court Mulls Their Fate And That Of Others Allegedly Involved In School Arson And Mercury Spill