SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man will spend more than 11 years in prison for a months-long burglary spree that targeted local churches and businesses.
On Friday, Sedgwick County District Judge Kevin M. Smith sentenced 49-year-old Stephen D. Rowell to 136 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The sentence follows a string of 11 separate burglaries committed between May and August 2025. Once Rowell completes his prison term, he must serve 12 months of post-release supervision. He was also ordered to pay more than $28,000 in restitution to his victims.
The case was solved through a coordinated effort by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office along with police departments from Wichita, Goddard, and Maize. Investigators used security camera footage to identify Rowell as the suspect, and the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center later matched Rowell’s DNA to evidence recovered from a crime scene.
At the time of these burglaries, Rowell was already under the supervision of the Kansas Department of Corrections for prior offenses. Because of his criminal history, Judge Smith ordered the new sentence to run consecutively to his previous convictions. This means Rowell must finish serving his time for his prior crimes before the new 11-year term begins.