Eleven individuals have been charged in connection with a series of burglaries that damaged a home in Northern California to such an extent that bears were able to enter. The Butte County District Attorney’s Office announced that the suspects, who allegedly targeted a 64-year-old woman’s residence in Magalia, face first-degree residential burglary charges. The disturbances began on April 17, 2024, when the first burglary incident was reported. Following that, the burglars repeatedly struck the home, causing the resident to leave out of fear for her safety.
Reports indicate that the sustained damage was so severe that multiple bears found their way inside the property, leading to further destruction. Those charged include Sean Anthony Crua, 43; Nicholas Brown, 37; Mary Ricca, 59; Sefo Sipa, 37; Gavin Dominguez-Feathers, 25; Joey Kupiheanapeahi, 42; Breanna Maier, 32; Michael Barnett, 29; Matthew Bacon, 44; Lindsey McLaughlin, 37; and Kayla Goebel, 34, all from Magalia. Currently, Crua, Maier, Dominguez-Feathers, and Kupiheanapeahi are held in Butte County Jail with bail set at $50,000 each. Brown has made bail, while the others have been released on their own recognizance, despite objections from prosecutors.
All eleven suspects are scheduled to return to court for further proceedings on July 9 and 10. This case has garnered attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the burglaries and the impact on the local community.