Rowland goes to prison for shooting at neighbors

FARMINGTON — A Farmington man will be going to prison after firing shots at his neighbors because he thought they stole his truck.

On Friday, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte sentenced Joseph Rowland, 57, to nine years in prison after he entered Alford pleas to two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. He will have to serve at least five years before being considered for parole.

By entering an Alford plea, he did not admit to any element of the charge but recognized there was sufficient evidence for trial. He had been found competent to stand trial and the trial was scheduled for Dec. 3.

According to court records, police were called to Rowland’s Farmington residence in September of 2006 after neighbors reported that he fired shots at them and accused them of stealing his truck. The truck was not owned by Rowland but was actually owned by the neighbors.

The neighbors had just returned home from a shopping trip and Rowland walked toward their truck. He fired two shots toward the driver and another shot toward their house.

When the first officers arrived, Rowland had already gone back into his house, and refused to come out.

After attempts to call the man on his phone failed, Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker used a loudspeaker to convince the man to come out.

After Rowland was taken into custody, police searched his home and found the gun, as well as other weapons.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.