It was tight security Wednesday afternoon at the Elk County courthouse. 

A 1:30 preliminary hearing was scheduled for Francis Milliard. 

Originally, the hearing was scheduled at the district magistrate's office in Johnsonburg, butit was changed to a location where more security could be added. 

Milliard was arrested in July after police charged his son with arson. Officials said he forced his son into lighting a home in 2008 and most recently in May. 

Milliard was also charged with attempted homicide after nearly killing another Elk County man last summer. 

On Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, Ridgway borough police and the Elk County Sheriff's Department, made sure the courthouse was under tight security. 

Francis Milliard was represented by defense attorney Michael Hadley. 

District Attorney Bradley Kraus called the first witness to the stand: Milliard's son, Anthony Milliard. 

Anthony Milliard was arrested on July 10 after being accused of starting fires in 2008 and in May. 

According to previous court documents obtained by 6 News, Anthony Milliard admitted starting the fires to police. He told police his father made him do it. 

Kraus questioned Anthony Milliard as to why his dad wanted him to burn down his property at 115 First Ave. in Johnsonburg. 

Anthony Milliard said that at the time, he and his girlfriend were living in the house. He said there needed to be a lot of renovations. He said his father came to him one day while they were working at his Francis' antique shop. 

Anthony Milliard said about two weeks later, he actually burned the house down. 

"I went inside of the house; poured gasoline in the living room," he said. 

Anthony Milliard told the judge that his father had given him the gas can that night. He said his father waited outside in a vehicle. 

After initially lighting the home on fire, Anthony Milliard said, the fire became so strong, it forced him out of the house.

He told the judge when he walked back to the car, he knew the house was on fire.

Anthony Milliard said his father eventually received between $8,000 and $9,000 in insurance claims.

Kraus asked why he listened to his father. 

"I was told to do it. I didn't argue about it," he said. 

Kraus then questioned Anthony Milliard about an incident in June 2011 involving his father and Todd Asti. 

Anthony Milliard said that he knew Asti from his father and that perhaps he was a distant cousin of his father. 

Anthony Milliard said that night, he and his father were going to go out together. Instead, his father said they needed to stop at Asti's house to collect money. 

According to the affidavit obtained by 6 News, Anthony Milliard believe(s) the money was for drugs.

Anthony Milliard said things got physical at the front door between his father and Asti. 

Anthony Milliard said he saw his father hit Asti in the head with a club. 

He told the judge Asti pleaded for Milliard to stop, but he didn't. He said Asti was bleeding from his head, and there was a lot of blood. 

Anthony Milliard told the judge that Asti eventually collapsed toward the back of the house. 

At that time, Anthony Milliard said, he walked back toward the car. 

"There wasn't anything that I could do," he said. 

Anthony Milliard said that night and the next day, he and his father never talked about the assault. 

Kraus also questioned Anthony Milliard on a third case, involving an arson along West Main Street in Ridgway on May 30. 

Anthony Milliard said that at that time, he had been living with his father at his father's house along Long Level Road. 

He said that at that time, he was also working at the antique shop in Johnsonburg and helping out with his father's construction business. 

Anthony Milliard said that on May 30, he and his father left the house around 3 a.m. 

He said that his father requested that he burn down a home on West Main Street. 

He said his father gave him a container of gasoline. Anthony Milliard said his father parked near where the former West End supermarket used to be. 

He said once he was done, he walked back to his father's car.  He said he knew the home was on fire, and he threw the gloves he had been wearing out the car window when they left the scene. 

Kraus asked Anthony Milliard if his father was present in the courtroom. 

He said "yes."

Kraus asked if he could identify him and asked what he was wearing. 

"A sweater," he said. 

"A sweater?" questioned Kraus. 

"It's not a sweater, it's a jail suit," Francis explained. 

Hadley began questioning Anthony Milliard once the commonwealth was finished. 

He asked if the pauses he took during his testimony were because he felt like he was speaking against his will. 

Anthony Milliard said "no."

Hadley asked him if he called his father from jail two days after he was arrested. He also asked if he told his father he was interrogated for six hours and chained to a wall. Anthony Milliard said "yes." 

Hadley questioned Anthony Milliard's involvement with drugs. 

Anthony Milliard said that when he was arrested, he was withdrawing from Subutex.

Subutex is a prescriptive medication that treats opioid addiction. 

Anthony Milliard said he was addicted to heroin for 12 years. 

He said that his addiction and withdrawal symptoms did not effect his testimony. 

Hadley questioned why Anthony Milliard started the fire. He went on asking why his father didn't do it himself. 

"I was told what to do, and I did it," he said. 

In regards to the assault, Anthony Milliard said he believed the club may have been up his father's sleeve. He said it was about 2 feet long. 

Anthony Milliard said he was well aware that involving these three cases, the only evidence really known is his testimony. 

Before ending court for the day, Francis Milliard was arraigned on three additional charges. 

He received a felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm.  He also was charged on two drug-related counts. His bail was increased an additional $30,000.

Francis Milliard's bail is currently set at $455,000.

A hearing regarding the recent charges has been scheduled for next week.