Madison man faces 22 felony charges

MADISON - Law enforcement has determined that the 29-year-old Madison man arrested Tuesday for the attempted burglary of two Madison businesses is also tied to the burglary and theft of firearms at a Madison gunsmith shop.
Joseph Alan James made his first court appearance Wednesday on 22 felony charges: seven counts of felon in possession of firearms, seven counts of possessing a pistol or assault weapon after being convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a violent crime and four counts of possessing firearms with altered serial numbers.
He also faces felony charges of theft of firearms, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, first-degree criminal damage to property and third-degree burglary.
James remained in custody at the Yellow Medicine County Jail as of 5 p.m. Thursday on $100,000 conditional bail and $200,000 unconditional bail, according to the jail’s online roster.
Surrounding homes were reportedly evacuated during a search of the defendant’s residence early Tuesday morning, located in the 700 block of Third Avenue in Madison, according to a news release from the Lac qui Parle County Sheriff’s Office.
Several agencies were called to assist the sheriff’s office with the search.
A three-hour standoff reportedly ensued at the residence before James voluntarily came out of his home and was arrested.
According to the criminal complaint on the charges, video footage identified James as the suspect of the attempted burglaries reported Saturday at Kleinbank and the Municipal Liquor Store in Madison. James allegedly fired shots at the liquor store and an ATM at Kleinbank late Friday night and early Saturday morning, causing more than $1,000 in damage.
Further investigation identified the gun used during the attempted burglaries as one of the guns stolen in late June during the burglary of Light’Em Up Gunsmithing LLC in Madison.
Law enforcement arrived at the defendant’s residence around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to execute the warrant. West Central SWAT assisted the Sheriff’s Office in gaining entry to the residence and James was arrested at
3:24 a.m. Numerous firearms were located during the search, six of which were identified as stolen from Light’Em Up Gunsmithing on June 24 or 25.
Of the numerous firearms located at the residence, two had barrels shorter than the legal minimum length and four had serial numbers scratched off, according to the criminal complaint.
A criminal history check showed that James was adjudicated delinquent of felony sexual assault of a child, and James also “has a history of narcotic possession,” the criminal complaint states.
It is illegal for a felon to possess a firearm in Minnesota.