Probable cause found to try alleged burglar

The Superior Court has found probable cause to try a man accused of threatening another man with a knife while burglarizing his house.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho has found probable cause to try Joseph Lee on charges of burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, and theft.

Lee is accused of brandishing a knife at a man whose home he was allegedly burglarizing.

“The court heard the testimony as presented by…police detective Daniel Kaipat and based upon the matters adduced at the hearing, the court finds probable cause to believe that the crimes of burglary, theft, and assault with a dangerous weapon were committed and the person who may have committed said offenses is Joseph Lee. The defendant is therefore held to answer said charges,” Camacho’s order stated.

Lee was ordered to return to court on Feb. 22, for a status conference. He was remanded back to Department of Corrections custody.

According to court documents, the Department of Public Safety received a report at around 5:58am on Dec. 25, 2023, about a burglary and theft incident in progress. The caller, Jeffrey Hofschneider Jr., informed police that there was a man inside his house stealing items and that he was armed with a knife.

At the scene, Hofschneider told police that he heard noises outside his room at about 4:30am, but he thought it was the wind and the leaves blowing, so he just ignored it.

A louder sound roused him at around 5am, so he looked outside his bedroom and that’s when he allegedly saw a man crouched in the living room, trying to pack a karaoke machine inside a bag.

Hofschneider told police he yelled at the man and the defendant allegedly picked up a knife and charged at Hofschneider. The victim, however, managed to close and lock his bedroom door.

At that point, Hofschneider said he took out his service weapon and warned the burglar he had a gun and would shoot. He then called police for assistance.

Some of the things Lee allegedly stole were a Magic Sing Karaoke set, microchips, a laptop, shoes, alcoholic beverages, a hat, shorts, and the key to a Nissan Titan car, along with some house keys.

Lee was identified by a neighbor who sent Hofschneider a photo of the suspect and Hofschneider allegedly identified the clothes that Lee was wearing as among the items that had been stolen.

Hofschneider later positively identified Lee in a police line-up as the man whom he allegedly saw inside his house on Christmas Day.