Man convicted of "ninja" burglary

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette man who wore a ninja outfit to a break-in was convicted of burglary and resisting law enforcement.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said 36-year-old Marc Rowland attempted to break in to Castle Comics and Cards on South 4th Street around 2:00 a.m in June 2009. The owner's son was sleeping at the store at the time. He heard noise in the back room and called police.

Police said Rowland had on a black ninja outfit. He threw away a black vest when ran from police.  The vest contained CO2 cylinders, chinese stars and walkie talkie.  Police said Rowland told them  "I didn't have anything to do with it.  I wasn't breaking in to anything." 

Rowland has several prior convictions, including two burglary convictions, three theft convictions, two receiving stolen good convictions, two receiving stolen auto parts convictions, and a habitual offender conviction.

Rowland will be tried again on a habitual offender charge.  He faces 2-8 years in prison for the burglary charge and one year for the resisting law enforcement.  If he is convicted of being a habitual offender, he could face six to 21 years in prison.