Kansas City robber gets 30-year sentence for Northland jewel heist

A Kansas City man who robbed a Northland business of more than $700,000 in jewelry received a 30-year federal prison sentence Monday.

Rowdy M. Offield, 44, has accumulated 14 felony convictions since 1993 and once confessed to police that he was a “serial robber,” he acknowledged Monday.

“This defendant has an incredible and troubling criminal history,” said Michael Green, an assistant U.S. attorney.

Offield currently is serving a 60-year sentence in a Missouri prison for a stack of previous convictions in Clay, Saline and Johnson counties. His defense lawyer, Travis Poindexter, acknowledged that Offield won’t be eligible for his first state parole hearing until 2043. Even if that goes well, he won’t be eligible for release until 2045, when he would be 75 years old.

In his plea in April, Offield admitted that he entered Crown Fine Jewelry in the 300 block of Northeast Englewood Road on June 22, 2011, and pointed a pistol at the owner.

He fled after the owner filled two bags with jewelry and coins from the business’ safe.

U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple noted that the 30-year sentence was well above a maximum 20-year sentence recommended under federal guidelines.

“You’re an armed career criminal,” Whipple said. “I’m imposing this sentence for deterrence, for punishment and for the protection of the public.”

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Kansas City robber gets 30-year sentence for Northland jewel heist."