Hubbard County: Ice Cream Theft Leads to Felony Charge

HUBBARD COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Jonathan Duane Antoine Ogugua, 26, faces a felony burglary charge involving a box of ice cream sandwiches.

The alleged incident occurred September 26, 2026, at the Hubbard County North Transfer Station.

According to a criminal complaint, security cameras captured a person walking away from the facility with a box of ice cream treats.

Investigators later located Ogugua along U.S. Highway 71, where they identified him as a possible suspect.

Alarm Brings Deputies to Transfer Station

Hubbard County deputies responded to an active alarm at the North Transfer Station around 7:12 p.m.

Joshua Holte, the county’s solid waste administrator, reported seeing a suspicious person on the facility’s security cameras.

Holte also reported that a side door appeared broken.

According to the complaint, the footage showed someone moving around the building’s west and south sides.

The person later appeared to walk away carrying a box of ice cream bars.

Investigators described the person’s clothing as a dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and a knit cap.

Employee Reports Missing Ice Cream Sandwiches

Deputies inspected the transfer station and found a south-side door closed but unlocked.

They also discovered an unlocked interior door leading into a garage containing heavy equipment.

Investigators spoke with transfer station employee Wesley Harold Mowder about the facility and the missing items.

Mowder reportedly said he had secured the doors before leaving work around 5 p.m.

He also reported that a box of ice cream sandwiches was missing from the station’s freezer.

According to the complaint, Mowder had purchased the frozen treats and left them at the facility.

The supplied court document does not list the value of the missing ice cream.

Deputies Locate Suspect Along Highway 71

During the investigation, another deputy located a man near U.S. Highway 71 and Old Cemetery Road.

The man wore clothing similar to that shown in the security footage, according to the complaint.

Investigators described a dark sweatshirt, gloves, and a knit cap.

The complaint states the man initially refused to identify himself.

Deputies later identified him as Jonathan Duane Antoine Ogugua using a law enforcement database.

The supplied complaint does not state whether investigators recovered the missing ice cream.

Felony Burglary Charge Filed

Ogugua faces one count of third-degree burglary under Minnesota Statute 609.582, subdivision 3(a).

The charge alleges unlawful entry into a building with intent to steal, or theft committed after unlawful entry.

Third-degree burglary is a felony under Minnesota law.

A conviction can carry up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.

The potential penalty reflects the burglary charge, not the reported value of the frozen treats.

Other Pending Criminal Cases

The criminal complaint also lists three separate pending cases involving Ogugua in Beltrami County.

Those cases include allegations of theft, theft of services, and trespassing.

The listed case numbers are 04-CR-26-2369, 04-CR-26-2113, and 04-CR-26-2083.

Those matters are separate from the current Hubbard County burglary allegation.

The supplied complaint does not establish any convictions in those pending cases.

Hubbard County Court Proceedings

The burglary case is filed under Hubbard County Court File No. 29-CR-26-882.

The complaint includes an order of detention and identifies Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

No upcoming hearing date appears in the supplied document.

Readers can search public records through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Ogugua is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.