The suspect, wearing only boxer shorts, ran from the home after firefighters arrived Dec. 26. He was chased but got away from the home on Chicago's Southwest Side in the 4800-block of South Kolin.
Robert Villanueva, 35, was charged early Sunday with two counts of aggravated arson, according to police. Court records show he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1994 in a murder case.
On Sunday, he was ordered held on $500,000 bond.
Police say he was located and arrested Saturday in a Brookfield apartment. His son suffered minor burns and was treated at Saint Anthony Hospital.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
