FORT MADISON - Friday morning in North Lee County Court, Roy James Vowels, 34, of Fort Madison was sentenced to two years in prison on conviction of Harassment in the 1st degree.
On May 12th, 2023, the Fort Madison Police Department Detective Bureau received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), indicating that Vowels made an online threat to carry out a mass killing. The threat was received by an individual located outside of the United States who, with the assistance of a US resident, reported the threat to the FBI.
Fort Madison Police Chief Mark Rohloff said Vowels indicated he planned the attack at an unspecified daycare facility.
Vowels was taken into custody by detectives hours later and charged with making a threat of terrorism. Vowels later plead guilty to an amended charge of Harassment in the 1st degree on October 13th 2023. The case has been working its way through the court system since his arrest. Keokuk attorney Curt Dial represented Vowels in the case.
The Fort Madison Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Lee County Attorney’s Office.
Rohloff said this a good example of the community staying vigilant in reporting criminal activity to local law enforcement. Rohloff reminded individuals, if they see something, say something. Acts of violence can be prevented if suspicious activity or behavior are reported.
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