Homeless man charged with burglary on Newberry residential property
Staff report
NEWBERRY, Fla. – Mark James Owens, 53, was arrested yesterday after allegedly entering an enclosed structure at a residential property in Newberry to get some water.
An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the property after the victim said video surveillance showed a man entering a fully enclosed structure at 10:56 a.m. and opening a faucet, letting the water run onto the ground. About five minutes later, the man returned with a gallon jug and filled it with water. The deputy noted that Owens had to jump a fence to enter the property.
The victim said he did not know the man but had seen him at a neighboring property, and the deputy found Owens in the front yard of the neighboring property.
Post Miranda, Owens reportedly said he had gone to the victim’s property to get water because the children at the neighboring property do not have access to water. He said he didn’t think it was theft because it was just water.
Owens, who is described as homeless on the arrest report, has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and petit theft within a curtilage. He has an extensive criminal history in Columbia County going back to 1990 and was released from prison in October 2025 after serving an 18-month sentence for burglary and grand theft. Judge Phillip Pena set bail at $100,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
$100,000? A bum hit a woman with a pipe and got less than half of that for bail. But of course that was in Gainesville where the victim is the troublemaker.
All of you liberals who are obviously going to give a 👎🏼, can’t you notice a trend here? The homeless population that has exploded in Alachua County—especially in Gainesville—has caused an exponential increase in the numbers of crimes being committed. When you look in the mirror each day, you can say, “I caused this.”
By continuing to elect and re-elect those who invite such lawlessness—you’re as partially responsible as they are.