The mother, whose identity can't be published to protect the boy, told the Winnipeg Sun she asked the school system for help with his behavioral problems in 2006 and said she also told firefighters a year ago her son had set a garage on fire.

She said as a result, he was booked for a single counseling session, the Sun said.

The boy was arrested Sunday after a house was broken into a day earlier and torched, resulting in a complete burn-out, the report said.

The mother said none of her other five children has behavioral problems, and said she didn't feel she or her family should be held accountable for the boy's alleged crimes.

"We know he has a problem and we are dealing with it ... We are sorry," she said.