| For Immediate Release April 27, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Kang Schroeder Deputy District Attorney (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 292-2718 Cell |
ONE OF ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S TOP 10 WANTED PERSONS CAPTURED IN ARIZONA
*Will be extradited to Orange County to be prosecuted for his Third Strike
LAKE HAVASU, ARIZONA – The man who fled from his court appearance after finding out he was facing Three Strikes in January of 2005 was captured in Lake Havasu, Arizona by law enforcement officers last evening. Samuel Anthony Rowland, 27, last known to live in Newport Beach, was captured by Mojave County Sheriff’s Department officials in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
He was wanted on a $1 million warrant on charges that he possessed a short barreled shotgun and methamphetamine while possessing an operable firearm. The defendant waved the extradition warrant in an Arizona court today and will be in an Orange County Superior Court soon. Rowland is facing 25 years to life in state prison if convicted.
On December 30, 2004, Rowland is accused of being in a Santa Ana motel with four other individuals and possessing a short barreled shotgun, a handgun and methamphetamine. On January 13, 2005, Rowland is accused of coming to court, finding out that he was facing Three Strikes, and leaving before the court called his case. He was believed to be in the company of his girlfriend Elizabeth Diaz.
On October 13, 2005, Rowland was featured on the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Top 10 list. Law enforcement had been actively investigating the leads and they had a break when a person, who knew the defendant was wanted, notified the authorities.
“We do our best, but the police cannot be in every place, all the time. We need citizens to be our eyes and ears and turn in dangerous wanted persons. Today, we have taken Mr. Rowland off the streets. We look forward to taking this case through the justice system,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
Eight more individuals are still wanted on the OCDA’s Top 10 List. The public is encouraged to log onto www.orangecountydistrictattorney.com and call the OCDA’S MOST WANTED HOTLINE (866) 673-2574 if they have any information about the whereabouts of these individuals.
Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson of the Target Unit is prosecuting this case.
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