A Juneau man who is awaiting sentencing for attempted burglary was recently charged with burglarizing another person.
Prosecutors brought two new charges against 29-year-old Joseph A.S. Allen on May 9: one count of first-degree burglary, a felony, and one count of third-degree theft, a misdemeanor.
Allen is accused of breaking into a woman’s home the morning of Oct. 26, 2011, after her husband had left to work at Greens Creek Mine, according to an affidavit.
The woman, who recently moved to Juneau from Anchorage, reported to police she awoke when she heard footsteps inside her house, the affidavit states. All the doors to the house were locked, and the burglar rang the doorbell as he left, she said.
No one else had a key to the house except her husband, and her neighbors told her the day before they saw someone walking in her backyard, according to the affidavit. The neighbors couldn’t provide a description of the suspect.
The woman’s purse, which contained credit and debit cards, cash and an iPhone, was stolen during the incident, the affidavit states.
The woman told police her house was just burglarized a few weeks prior to that, and “a lot of our stuff” was already stolen.
This time, police found Allen’s fingerprints, according to the affidavit. An Alaska State Crime Lab report indicated two latent fingerprints were lifted from the inside door handle of the woman’s residence.
Allen was arraigned last week in Juneau District Court, and he is being held on $5,000 cash bail, according to court records.
His next court appearance is today, but that hearing will be vacated if Allen is indicted by a grand jury, as the case will be re-opened in Superior Court.
Allen pleaded guilty earlier this month in Superior Court to first-degree attempted burglary, a felony, and second-degree attempted forgery, a misdemeanor, for stealing checkbooks, a gun, ammo and other items from a local couple’s home on Dec. 19. He is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on June 11.
Police located and arrested Allen on Dec. 27 after a string of three home break-ins were reported in the valley on Dec. 26. Police said during the first of those break-ins, a man armed with a rifle came into her house in the 8000 block of Thunder Street, pushed her to the floor and pointed the gun at her.
Charges in that case have still not been brought. Prosecutors said earlier in the month that’s because the investigation is still ongoing.
Court records show Allen does not have any prior felonies, although he was previously accused of unlawfully entering a woman’s home in 2001.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (8)
Add commentTo be continued...
This guy ...must be a druggie because there's no other explanation for his judgment errors and utter lack of common decency. Heck, he's not even a good crook. Pure stupidity fueled his December rampage. I certainly hope he is held accountable for his little terror spree and that he pays for his own rehab instead of making the state pay his bills
He's lucky...
...he's alive. That's the kind of situation where lead could be flying.
Doorbell on the way out
Ringing the doorbell as he leaves must be his calling card, sort of like the Wet Bandits who leave the faucets running in Home Alone.
29 &
no prior felonys congrats you've graduated & as lat stated your one lucky dog.
So what do you think?
Will he become another 'victim' in prison or 'perpetrator'?
Will he get any smarter?
Pretty creepy to say the least, why ring the door bell on the way out, so the home owner can maybe have a look at you which will make the description to the police much more accurate after she discover the articles are missing. When things are odd and unexplained there usually is always drugs involved. Hope the home owner has a better year with zero robberies.
Home invasions are a rush to a particular class
of burglar. The drug of choice is danger, power and an unknown result. As a rule burglars prefer to enter and exit without detection. (The dumb ones try to fence items via pawn shops.) Home invasions occur when someone is still in the home. This is a particularly dangerous breed of burglar, akin to someone willing to exchange fire with the police, and exhibits a total lack of empathy for the victim residents.
We look for a reason for this behavior and drug addiction is a solid explanation reasonable people can hang their hats on.
Another explanation is there are people willing to take a life during the crime of home invasion. No one wants to think they could be standing next to one.
Choices
Regardless of the reason, Mr. Allen MADE DECISIONS AND CHOICES that make him a dangerous offender. He clearly lacks consideration and empathy for others, let alone his victims.