A parole absconder accused of stealing from a disabled children’s charity is facing a felony charge of larceny in a building and is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
John Rowell, 41, of Flint, was arraigned Jan. 16 in 51st District Court in Waterford and is scheduled to return there on Jan. 30 for a probable cause conference before Judge Todd Fox. A preliminary exam is scheduled for a week later.
As previously reported by The Oakland Press, the Waterford Police Department said detectives tracked Rowell to a Flint-area motel on Jan. 15. He then admitted to stealing a bag containing cash and a check from the Miracle League of Oakland County fundraiser held Jan. 6 at Century Bowl on M-59, police said.
The bag was taken from the fundraiser’s registration table, police said. It reportedly contained a $210 check and approximately $300 cash.
The Miracle League of Oakland County provides an organized baseball league for children with disabilities.
Rowell is an absconder from the Michigan Department of Corrections and is also suspected in a robbery under investigation by Michigan State Police.
Rowell’s criminal history includes convictions for bank robbery, home invasion, possessing contraband while in prison and more. He was put on probation for two years in 2023 after pleading to charges of resisting/obstructing/assaulting a police officer, breaking and entering, and malicious destruction of property in Genesee County.