Arkansas Man Arrested For Arson After Church Confession

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) -- A man who unburdened himself at church by confessing to an arson wound up in jail after a fellow worshiper alerted police.

Edwin Cirilo Jr., 24, of Fort Smith was arrested Thursday on suspicion of felony arson, burglary and a parole violation. He was still in jail Friday, held without bond, Fort Smith police spokesman Sgt. Jarrard Copeland said.

Copeland said a regular attendee at services at the Central Assembly of God Church called police on Thursday after Cirilo confessed at a Wednesday night service. Copeland said he didn't know if Cirilo was a member of the church or had just stopped in to confess.

The arson was at a home on Sept. 3. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze but the house sustained severe smoke and heat damage. No one was hurt. The home was a rental property, and the tenant was out of town at the time of the fire, police said.

Copeland said Cirilo's parole violation was for an out-of-state offense.