FESTUS, Mo. (Oct. 16, 2025) — A Festus man has been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of burglary and two counts of property damage, in connection with an incident that occurred in August, prosecutors said.

David Matthew Schaefer, age 38, of Festus, faces four charges stemming from events on Aug. 17, according to a criminal complaint filed Oct. 14, 2025 by the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

In the most serious charge, prosecutors allege Schaefer unlawfully entered an inhabited structure with the intent to steal while the property’s owner, identified in court documents as Victim 1, was present. That charge constitutes first-degree burglary, a class B felony under Missouri law.

Schaefer is also charged with second-degree burglary, a class D felony, for allegedly entering a separate building belonging to the same victim with the intent to commit property damage.

Additionally, Schaefer faces two counts of second-degree property damage, both class B misdemeanors. Authorities say he broke a vehicle window owned by a second victim and also damaged a window at the same location as the alleged burglaries.

Specific locations and the names of the victims were redacted from court filings.

The above charges are mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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