A 46-year-old Dubuque man made his first Grant County Circuit Court appearance Monday, May 6th, for a Platteville burglary 20 years ago.
Robert J. Roling is charged with two counts of felony theft of movable property — special facts and one count each of burglary of a building or dwelling, criminal damage to property, and misdemeanor theft.
Bail was set at a $1,000 signature bond. A status conference will be held May 20.
Roling faces up to 12 years in prison and $25,000 fine on the burglary charge and six years in prison and $10,000 fine on the felony theft charges if convicted.
The charges were filed in connection with a May 30, 2004 break-in at the former Roh’s Auto Mart on Lancaster Street. Charges were filed after a DNA match from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab last October with blood left at the crime scene.
An arrest warrant under the name John Doe was issued in 2006 before the DNA match, according to court records. The name on the arrest warrant was changed to RolingApril 24, according to court records.
The blood was found in several areas of the building, including around a moved safe where vehicle keys and titles were kept, according to the criminal complaint.
The break-in resulted in the theft of a .410-caliber shotgun, a .22-caliber rifle, a .25-caliber handgun, a cash register, a laptop computer, a cordless drill, several autographed baseballs and baseball cards, and money from a cash box, according to the criminal complaint.
Entry was gained by a window into an office area and a garage door window, according to the criminal complaint.
The DNA was tested by a Texas company in May 2005, according to the criminal complaint.
Roling was convicted of battery in Florida when the DNA match was made, according to court records.
Roling was arrested at his wife’s house in Peosta, Iowa, April 8, according to the criminal complaint.
Roling is charged in Dubuque County with assault causing bodily injury or mental illness for an incident March 31, according to Iowa court records.
Roling was arrested for attempted burglary in Dubuque in December 2004, and in East Dubuque that same year, according to the criminal complaint. Platteville police had a contact with Roling in 2010.
Roling pleaded guilty in 2006 to assault causing bodily injury ad a probation violation, according to Iowa court records. He also pleaded guilty in 2005 to attempted third-degree burglary, and he pleaded guilty in 2001 to child endangerment, domestic abuse assault and a probation violation, according to Iowa court records.
