Man Charged with Felony Drug Possession and Theft Following Theft From Burlington Coat Factory in Apple Valley
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - A 27-year-old Minneapolis man, Jajuan Akale Barnes, is facing multiple criminal charges, including a felony for controlled substance possession and a gross misdemeanor for theft, following a series of incidents in Dakota County earlier this year.
Barnes is charged with Controlled Substance Crime in the 3rd Degree, a felony under Minnesota law, after being found in possession of 13.7 grams of fentanyl on August 16, 2024. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
In a separate incident on August 13, 2024, Barnes allegedly stole items valued at $518.73 from Burlington Coat Factory in Apple Valley. He reportedly filled a shopping cart with merchandise and exited the store without paying. The stolen goods were recovered after Barnes was apprehended for shoplifting at a different store in Bloomington, Minnesota. This incident led to a Gross Misdemeanor Theft charge, which could result in a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
Sequence of Events
On August 16, Barnes had returned to the same Burlington Coat Factory store in Apple Valley, prompting employees to call police. Officers escorted him from the premises, finding shoplifting tools and a bag of white powder during the arrest. A field test confirmed the powder contained fentanyl.
Barnes was held on a bail amount of $10,000 without conditions or $1,000 with conditions, including:
No travel outside Minnesota without court approval.
No contact with employees of Burlington Coat Factory.
A restriction prohibiting Barnes from being within a half-mile radius of any Burlington Coat Factory location.
Warrant Issued
After his arrest, Barnes was temporarily released from the Dakota County Jail on September 12, 2024, to attend treatment at a regional addiction recovery center. However, on November 13, 2024, Assistant Dakota County Attorney Chip Granger was informed that Barnes had left treatment against staff advice. A warrant was issued for his arrest because he was on furlough and not formally released on September 14, 2024. His warrant was served on November 22, 2024, by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Barnes's bail was once again set at $10,000 without conditions or $1,000 with conditions with the same conditions as before, which has not been paid as of writing this article. He remains in custody at Dakota County Jail. His next court date is December 19, 2024, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Barnes, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Written by: Will Wight