April 08--ALBANY -- A felon currently on parole for setting a 1990 fire that killed five elderly people in Schenectady was arrested for breaking into a car on Hamilton Street.
Around 12:15 p.m. Monday, a woman spotted Joseph Balga breaking into her car, stealing belongings and running away, Officer Steve Smith said.
Cops found Balga a short while later on Lark Street, near Madison Avenue.
Charged with petit larceny, Balga, 53, was arraigned in Albany City Court and, because of his prior felonies and his parole status, was sent to Albany County jail without bail.
According to state records, Balga was released from prison in 2007 after serving 16 years for setting a fire on Jay Street that killed five people and injured three others. Balga, who was convicted in 1991 of manslaughter, arson and assault, set the fire because he was angry his landlord was going to evict him, according to news archives.
Copyright 2014 - Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
