JANESVILLE, Wis. – The Janesville man who was the focus of a nationwide manhunt last week was in Rock County court Monday afternoon on charges related to a gun store burglary.
Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, who appeared in Rock County court via teleconference, interrupted Commissioner Larry Barton as he read the charge of possession of burglarious tools.
Jakubowski is accused of breaking into the Armageddon Supplies gun and ammunition shop on April 4 and stealing multiple guns and rifles. A vehicle registered to Jakubowski was found burning nearby about 30 minutes after the burglary, which launched a nationwide manhunt by local, state and federal law enforcement. Jakubowski was taken into custody Friday morning on the Richland and Vernon county line in Viola, about 120 miles northwest of the gun shop.
Jakubowski was charged with one count of burglary and arming oneself with a dangerous weapon, one count of theft and one count of possession of burglarious tools.
When Barton asked Jakubowski if he understood the three felony state charges against him and the penalties associated with each, Jakubowski interrupted, asking: “How can you come up with a charge for somebody to bring tools to break into a shop?”
Barton told Jakubowski not to openly discuss the case in court during the initial appearance, and Jakubwoski said: “Look, I’m not your slave, man. You can’t tell me what to do as a free individual. You can’t tell me.”
After briefly conferring with his attorney, who was seated next to him, Jakubowski said he understood the charges.
Barton set cash bond at $30,000, and Jakubowski was ordered not to have contact with Armageddon Supplies or its owner.
Jakubowski’s next court appearance on the three felony state charges is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. April 25.
Jakubowski was in federal court Friday afternoon charged with stealing firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in connection with the case. He’s scheduled to be arraigned in federal court April 25.
