LILLY, Pa. -- A Cresson Township man was jailed Monday after he was accused of setting fire to his apartment in Lilly and then blaming a dog, authorities said.
John Joseph Saparo, 58, was charged with burning down the apartment where he lived at 158 Railroad St. on July 12, township police said.
In a court document, authorities said Saparo told a state police fire marshal that "a dog may have started the fire by knocking over one of the fans."
Investigators didn't buy the story.
Township police charged Saparo with arson and related offenses, reckless endangerment and making false reports to law enforcement authorities.
Saparo's arrest caps a year-long investigation into the bizarre claim.
He was arraigned by on-call District Judge Rick Varner of Salix and sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $25,000 bond.
Copyright 2012 - The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
