A man accused of setting fire to multiple infill construction sites in south Edmonton has a lengthy history of arson, according to parole documents. Peter Terence Jones, 40, 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 of the fires occurred in the Belgravia neighbourhood.
Parole Violations and Suspicious Behavior
Jones became a person of interest after police spotted him near one of the fire scenes and recognized him, according to parole documents obtained by Postmedia. At the time, he was out more than an hour past his 10 p.m. curfew. When asked why he was in the area, Jones told his parole supervisor he 'just liked the area' and had lost track of time during a walk. The Parole Board of Canada found this explanation inadequate, stating in a Feb. 2 decision revoking his release that it 'does not reduce the concern arising from the curfew breach in combination with the location and timing.'
Extensive Criminal Record
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 had previously served time for setting fire to two churches in central Alberta. According to parole documents, he has been committing crimes or serving time since his youth. Jones told corrections officials he broke into buildings to steal money, tools, and electronics, and set fires to destroy evidence. He also admitted to elements of 'thrill-seeking' and 'revenge,' particularly after the death of his mother. He acknowledged getting a thrill from thinking about first responders dealing with the aftermath, and some fires were started after he was not hired for jobs at those locations.
Rehabilitation and Release
While in prison, Jones reportedly made progress with behavioral and alcohol abuse issues through counselling and adopting the Buddhist faith. In August 2022, the Parole Board granted him day parole with conditions including a curfew and residence in a halfway house. The board determined he did not pose an 'undue' risk of reoffending, citing a psychological assessment that rated him as 'low/moderate risk for general recidivism' and 'low' risk for violent crime. Full parole was deemed 'premature.' Three months later, Jones became eligible for statutory release, granted to most federal inmates two-thirds through their sentences. He was on statutory release when police spotted him near an infill fire scene on Oct. 2, 2025. He was arrested for parole violations the following month and officially deemed a person of interest in the arsons in December.
