JACKSON TWP — Four years after setting fire to a trailer at the Indian Brave Campground, a township man again is charged with arson.

Same location, different camper trailer, police said.

Harvey R. Albert, 33, faces a hearing next week in the latest arson case at the Route 19 campground.

Jackson Township police and Harmony volunteer firefighters were called to the facility Dec. 22 after Albert claimed he returned home to find the floor of his 18-foot trailer on fire, according to court documents.

The fire was out by the time authorities got there; but smoke still was coming from the trailer, police said. The suspect said he was able to extinguish the flames.

Police Sgt. Tim Amrhein, who was familiar with Albert from the 2005 arson, asked the defendant to come to the police station for an interview.

Albert in the previous case pleaded guilty to arson, Butler County Court records show, and he was sentenced to 8 to 23 months in county prison.

He was immediately paroled because of the time he spent in jail after his arrest, and was placed on 30 months' probation.

Police said the suspect initially denied setting the Dec. 22 fire. But a short time later, he allegedly confessed — in writing.

According to a police affidavit, the brief statement read: "I got up at 4:30 (a.m.) made breakfast and got ready for work. I put the stove upside down on the floor about 5:20 a.m. and left for work.

"I got home about 6:35 p.m. and tried to put fire out. I then called 911 about 6:50 p.m."

But Amrhein still had one primary question he wanted Albert to answer: " Why did you try to start the fire?

The officer jotted down the question on the form containing the suspect's written confession.

"Cry for help," Albert responded in writing.

Police last week charged the defendant with arson, a second-degree felony. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 27 before District Judge Wayne Seibel.

Albert is free on $2,000 unsecured bail. He could not be reached for comment.