Photo: Rowland Leroy Mitchell
A Baxter County man charged with threatening his ex-wife appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last Thursday.
Fifty-seven-year-old Rowland Leroy Mitchell pled guilty to a charge of terroristic threatening in a case that was filed in late May 2020.
He was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to have no contact with the victim and to continue with treatments for mental health issues.
Mitchell’s attorney, Ben Burnett, had indicated if Rowland went to trial, he would employ a mental disease or defect defense.
In late November last year, Mitchell was ordered to undergo examinations to determine if he was mentally fit to proceed and whether he could be held criminally responsible for his acts.
The results of those exams are back and since activity in the case continued, it can be assumed he was found fit to proceed and could be held criminally responsible for his acts.
THE ALLEGED THREATS
Mitchell’s ex-wife reported to deputies that he had told her he intended to screw the doors to her residence shut and introduce various pesticides into the house through the air conditioning system.
He is also alleged to have threatened to burn the couple’s house down with the victim inside the structure.
In one message, Mitchell is reported to have called himself “your friendly wife exterminator.”
According to the investigative report, Mitchell also sent a picture of various items, including pesticide foggers and a package of what appeared to be clothesline, to the victim.
The ex-wife was quoted as saying she felt her former husband’s threats were credible, and they had put her in fear of her life.
The probable cause affidavit notes the cellphone number used to communicate the threatening messages belonged to Rowland.
Members of the family filed affidavits seeking orders of protection against him outlining their concern with Mitchell’s behavior and the danger he could pose to them and others.
Information in the affidavits alleges Mitchell hired a company to sweep his home and business for “devices” at a cost of almost $7,500.
The affidavits also allege Mitchell is a diagnosed schizophrenic with paranoid delusions. His behavior is described as basically normal when he is on his medications, but not taking them results in a “rapid deterioration” of his mental state.
Family members allege in their affidavits he is suspected of using methamphetamine and has often attempted to force his ex-wife to take the drug as well.
He is also alleged to have made complaints about strange happenings in his home to various law enforcement agencies and other individuals, including the Pope in Rome.
Mitchell did have drug-related charges filed against him in 2017 and 2018.
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