Arson suspect charged in Belgravia infill fires had prior convictions

A 40-year-old man charged with torching infill construction sites in south Edmonton was on parole for a previous string of arsons, according to parole board documents released this week.

Peter Terence Jones was charged last week with 27 offences including arson, break and enter, and possession of stolen property after fires damaged or destroyed five infill developments last fall. All but one occurred in the Belgravia neighbourhood.

Police spotted Jones near one of the fire scenes and realized he was out more than an hour past his 10 p.m. curfew. When asked why he was there, he told his parole supervisor he went for a walk and lost track of time. The parole board found his explanation inadequate given the location and timing.

Jones was sentenced in 2015 to 12 years in prison for a series of break-ins and arsons in Wetaskiwin that caused over $5 million in damage. He previously served time for setting fire to two churches in the central Alberta community and has been either committing crimes or serving time since youth, parole documents state.

Jones told corrections officials he broke into buildings to steal money, tools, and electronics, then set fires to destroy evidence. He also described seeking "thrill" from thinking about first responders dealing with the aftermath. Some fires were started after he was not hired for jobs at those locations, he said.

While in prison, Jones reportedly made progress addressing behavioural and alcohol abuse issues through counselling and adopting the Buddhist faith. The Parole Board of Canada approved him for day parole in August 2022, requiring him to abide by a curfew and live in a halfway house.

The case underscores the parole system's challenge: balancing rehabilitation with public safety when releasing individuals with established fire-setting histories.