A Rohnert Park casino security guard was arraigned Tuesday on murder and burglary charges in the slaying of another Rohnert Park man, allegedly in a dispute over a woman.
Daniel James Dieters, 25, is charged with stabbing to death Roy Kauwe, 22, on Thursday inside Kauwe's Laguna Drive apartment. Based on statements from Dieters and the woman, police believed the killing to be the result of a lovers' triangle.
Dieters appeared in court in a blue jail uniform as family members of both men looked on. A judge appointed the Public Defender's Office to take his case and ordered him to return to enter a plea on April 15.
Kauwe's father, Joe Kauwe of Santa Rosa, said outside court he wants to see Dieters punished "to the full extent of the law."
He described his son as a peaceful, slightly built man who was overpowered by the much larger Dieters. Police believe Dieters stabbed Kauwe multiple times in the neck with a pocketknife.
He then called 911 and waited as instructed by dispatchers for officers to arrive. A knife was recovered at the scene, police have said.
"The act was hideous," Kauwe said. "I pray for him. But the act itself was sickening."
Kauwe said his son was not romantically involved with the woman, who he said was a co-worker at Costco. He said the two were just friends and had been visiting Kauwe's sister the day of the killing.
The sister, Melissa Kauwe-Warner, had driven Kauwe and the woman home just before the stabbing took place.
Dieters, who lived nearby and worked at Graton Resort and Casino, may have become enraged when he saw them together, the father said.
Dieters' lawyer, Lynne Stark-Slater, said she could not comment about details of the killing. But she said Dieters had no criminal record.
His mother, father and brother were at the arraignment.
"They are very supportive," Stark-Slater said. "And they expressed sympathy for the victim's family."
Dieters is charged with murder and use of a knife along with burglary because he is suspected of entering Kauwe's home with the intention of committing a crime, Stark-Slater said.
He faces life in prison if convicted.
But if he were convicted of killing Kauwe in a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion, he could be found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and face a lesser punishment. Or defense attorneys could argue it was self-defense and seek acquittal.
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.
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