A Jackson Township man who set fire to his own house in August is heading home.

Harvey Albert, 29, was sentenced Wednesday for the arson, then immediately paroled.

Albert, who also pleaded guilty to theft at his former place of employment, was sentenced to serve 8 to 23½ months in prison followed by 30 months of probation and 50 hours of community service.

However, Butler County Judge William Shaffer paroled Albert on the condition he comply with the requirements of parole, including counseling. He also must serve his probation and community service.

Police were initially suspicious about the Aug. 29 blaze because neighbors said they saw Albert peeling out of the driveway with his dog in the car just before flames became visible.

When confronted by police, Albert not only confessed, he re-enacted the crime.

Albert poured gasoline under his mobile home and lit it with a wooden match. He then threw the 2-gallon can of gasoline into the fire and drove away to pick up his wife, according to court documents.

No one was injured, but the home was badly damaged.

Court records do not cite a motive for the fire and Jackson Township Police Chief Len Keller said only, "There were personal and emotional issues involved."

Keller also investigated and solved the theft case in August 2003.

Court records say Albert, then an employee of Pro Gas in Jackson, used his key to enter the building during off hours.

Albert took money from two different locations inside the building then left and re-locked the door.

Before leaving the property, Albert tossed a concrete block through a window to give the appearance of a burglary.

But Keller was not fooled by the set up as it was apparent no one had used the broken window as an entrance.

Albert confessed to the theft after police found his fingerprints on the broken glass.

Shaffer on Wednesday ordered Albert to pay the company $670 for the damage he caused.