Rolland George Guenett: Burglary

Rolland George Guenett was born on 6 March 1920 in Gravelbourg, Canada. 


Gravelbourg is a small multicultural town in south central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located just west of the Wood River at the junction of provincial Highway 43 and Highway 58, approximately 125 kilometres from Moose Jaw, Swift Current, and the United States border. The region served as a path for First Nations peoples many years ago, and was also integrated into the Redcoat Trail of the 19th century. Gravelbourg is now a key link on the 21st century Trans Canada Trail.

Rolland along with his parents migrated to America some records say 1927 and census records show 1923. Both of his parents were born in Canada.

Very little is known about Rolland's father. His name was George and he was born abt 1892 His mother was. Marie Anna Gauthier BIRTH 5 APR 1898  Weedon, Quebec, Canada
DEATH 9 MAR 1986  Seal Beach, Orange, California, USA She divorced George in 1926 and re-married to Valentine Charles Edwin Osborne (1898-1974) He worked at a gas station garage in 1930 and he had a son Elmer Osborne age 11. By 1945 She divorced him and in the 1940's she was living at 11116 Kling St in Hollywood, CA She never had any other children.

1930 Census Rolland, Mom and stepdad and step brother listed at the top under Osborne

Records show Rolland Guenett in living with his mom and step-dad in 1930 in the 1935 at age 15 he was arrested for robbery and place in Sonoma State Home. Record below.

1940 California census Sonoma State Home Rolland is on line 55

Sonoma State Home in Sonoma, California




By 17 May 1941 at age 21 he is in Folsom Prison for burglary  #24803


He was sentenced for 1-10 but got out in 1943 or 1944
He then gets himself into more trouble and gets 2nd degree burglary and on his San Quentin prisoner card it states Violent Weapons Act.

I found a newspaper clipping stating that he was looting pinball machines. Bail was set at $2,500 and he was charged with burglary Jan 1944.

Notice the change in him from first photo on left he looks like a lost boy to the right he's hard and cold.

He has a good profession as plummer but  I feel he is carrying a lot of pain inside his heart. Perhaps for his father or the life with his mother. 

Notice his tattoo descriptions, I looked up the meaning I do not know what Frenchy is for I assume it has something to do with Canada perhaps. He hasn't been married or have any children.

The anchor may have to with dad or A lot of people choose anchor tattoo to remind them that although the matters are too difficult to be solved, or the challenges try every way to strike them down, they must keep their faith to overcome every hindrances strongly. 

Here's a text version of a newspaper clipping I found for 1944

Newspaper article

Sausalito News, Number 2, 13 January 1944 

Theft Cases Solved By Parolee Arrest

Roland Guenett, 23, was arrested last week at the Marinship dormitories. Guenett was taken into custody by Chief of Police James Doyle and Captain Cornelius J. McCann of the Sausalito Police Department at the point of drawn guns. His apprehension ends a recent wave of burglaries in the Sausalito area. Guenett, a San Quentin parolee, went to work at Marinship several months ago. Shortly thereafter he quit his job and a notice for his arrest was sent out by the state parole board. The parole board warned that he was probably armed and was dangerous. Meanwhile a Greyhound ticket station at Marinship’s gate three was burglarized twice within a two-week period and the recreation room at the dormitories was entered and robbed. Doyle and McCann, acting on private information, last Wednesday went to the dormitories and found Guenett in one of the rooms. He offered no resistance, being unclothed and in bed. A .25 automatic was found in his clothing, as was a screwdriver, the edges of which fit impressions around windows of the burglarized ticket station. It was later discovered that the gun in Guenett’s possession had been stolen from Marvin Larsh, 31 Bulkley street. Guenetl had worked with Larsh in the shipyard and had been a guest in his home. Larsh reported his gun stolen last November 11. Larsh had no knowledge of Guenett’s past history. Guenett is being charged by the county sheriff with burglary, by the Sausalito police with possession of firearms while on parole, petty theft and parole violation. Guenett is also wanted by the Los Angeles police department on a burglary charge.

Below is a photo of his Mom it's stated on his prison record that she is his closest living relative.

Below is a photo of Rolland's Maternal Grandfather Louis GAUTHIER
BIRTH 21 AUG 1859 Weedon, Richmond and Wolfe, Quebec, Canada
DEATH 14 JAN 1946  Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Canada

Below is a photo of Rolland's Maternal Grandmother  Leocadie Fortier

BIRTH 15 NOV 1861 Weedon, Cantons De Lest, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 23 SEPTEMBER, 1923  Gravelbourg, , Saskatchewan, Canada

I sincerely wish I would of found out more about his father where did her go? when did he die? did he remarry too? Somethings a genealogist always asks themselves.

I would imagine life in San Quentin or Folsom during this period in history could not of been easy. Although for some life is easier on the inside, they have a bed and food.

San Quentin Record I only found the one

The last prison date I found for Rolland was a parole date of 13 July 1953

Rolland George Guenett  died 1 Nov 1991 in Los Angeles, CA 

I didn't find a memorial from him on findagrave, I might even make one for him. I hope he found a of life of peace and happiness the last years of his life.

I picked Rolland to research and tell his story because so many times a criminals are labeled as bad and no good. He was just a boy when he was placed in the Sonoma State Home. Maybe he would of turned out differently if he would live with his father. There are more questions than answers.


I received an email today with this information:

He was admitted from Los Angeles County to the Sonoma State Home on March 2, 1937. He is listed as a "high moron" and is designated to be housed in Paxton Hall – a jail like facility for delinquent youths.

I do know that everyone good or bad has a genealogical purpose and has a story to be told. That's why I am here.