Defendants to enter change of plea

• Anchorage men face charges after allegedly setting boy on fire

By Sean Pearson
Homer Tribune
Two Anchorage men charged with allegedly setting fire to a young Anchor Point boy’s head in a “practical joke gone wrong” last November, will most likely enter a plea of guilty in Kenai Superior Court tomorrow as part of a currently undisclosed plea agreement with the State of Alaska.
Stephen Ray Dilley II, 32, and Jonathon Michael Miller, 29, were originally scheduled for trial on March 22 for their part in the Nov. 13 incident that left a 5-year-old boys with second-degree burns on his head and face.
Court records indicated that both men will appear in court Thursday before District Judge Charles Huegelet in a Change of Plea hearing.
According to the Homer Court office, a change of plea is usually indicative of an agreement between parties, and the State usually requires a guilty plea in order to move forward with that agreement.
Calls to attorneys for both men were not returned before press time.
Immediately following the incident last November, the two men told investigators they were babysitting the boy and joking around with a “redneck flamethrower,” when it accidentally set the boy on fire. Both were charged with five counts of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor reckless endangerment, according to police and court records.
According to Alaska State Trooper Ryan Browning’s affidavit, Miller said he was using the “redneck flamethrower” — comprising a lighter and an aerosol can of brake fluid — to try to “toughen up the boy.” He allegedly added that, the best way to do that was to, “scare the s**t out of them when they don’t see it coming.”
Miller said he used the brake cleaner because it “makes a really controlled flame.” However, when the boy opened the door of his bedroom and Miller ignited the spray, it caught the boy’s head on fire.
Dilley said he didn’t think the spray would go that far. Both stated that, when they saw the boy’s head on fire, they doused the flames with their hands.
The child was treated at the E.R., where he was reported to have suffered from second degree burns to his face and head.
 The child’s mother was originally charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, as she had filed a temporary restraining order against Dilley, but had let him back into the house with her children. However, court documents currently show no charges pending against her.

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