Landlord in carbon monoxide deaths pleads guilty

With one of his former attorneys at his side, Brentwood landlord Wilson Milord agreed Wednesday to serve 1 to 3 years in prison for the carbon monoxide deaths of three tenants at a West Babylon home he owned.

Milord, 50, faced the possibility of serving as his own attorney if he had been tried on charges that two adults and a child died in November 2007 from fumes caused by a gas-powered generator he placed in the home at 437 Sunrise Hwy.

Instead, he pleaded guilty to three counts of criminally negligent homicide, one count of second-degree grand larceny and a count of second-degree forgery. The latter two counts stemmed from mortgage fraud and identity theft that came to light during the investigation into the deaths.

Judge James Hudson set sentencing for Sept. 9. If Milord had been convicted at trial, he could have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"We're very happy," said Nicole Vandett, 29, of Copiague, the girlfriend of Ricardo Pearce, 27, one of the tenants who died. Vandett and Pearce, a veterinary assistant and electrician, had a daughter, Veronica, now 12.

"I wish he had got a little more time [in prison]," Vandett said. "At least this is better than nothing. Maybe now Ricky can rest in peace."

Also killed were Tanisha Armstrong, 25, and her daughter, Talani Johnson, 4, who lived in a different part of the house from Pearce. Armstrong's relatives could not be reached for comment.

The plea came as potential jurors in Milord's case waited elsewhere in the courthouse in the event that jury selection began in his trial.

Milord, after admitting to the crimes, told reporters he was not responsible for the victims' deaths. He said he placed the generator in the house for "storage" and said a tenant turned it on.

"I am very hurt right now," he said outside court. "It's not really my fault . . . It's a tragedy."

Assistant District Attorney Thalia Stavrides said Milord told tenants to use the generator for electricity and Milord moved the generator inside the house the day before the victims were found dead.

Milord pleaded guilty after Hudson reiterated his order from last week that Milord represent himself at trial because his attorneys had resigned. As part of the plea, he waived his right to appeal.

Wednesday, Milord's former attorney, Albert Dayan of Kew Gardens returned for the guilty plea after resigning last week in a dispute over pay and legal strategy. But Dayan said he would have left if the case had gone to trial.

After Milord's guilty plea, District Attorney Thomas Spota called him a "scammer" and "con artist" who tried to avoid prosecution by feigning ignorance of the legal system.

"He understands everything," Spota said. "He's not a stupid person. He's a very intelligent person."

After the victims' bodies were found, Babylon Supervisor Steven Bellone, a Democrat, called Milord a "slumlord." The Haiti-born Milord, who is black,responded by accusing Babylon Town officials of racism.

Bellone said Wednesday, "He deserves to go to jail, and I'm glad that the district attorney's office is making that happen."

The West Babylon home had been condemned by the Town of Babylon in June 2007. Milord still faces 13 alleged violations of town building code for the house; if convicted of all charges, he faces 6 years in jail and more than $166,000 in penalties.

In court, Milord acknowledged providing the generator for electricity after the Long Island Power Authority cut power to the house over nonpayment.

LIPA later found someone stole power at the house, but was unable to determine who was responsible, a LIPA spokeswoman said Wednesday.

With Denise M. Bonilla