U.S. to Charge Rowan Intruder

WASHINGTON — Syndicated columnist Carl L. Rowan will not be charged with assault against a young man he shot after calling police to report a predawn prowler, the U.S. attorney’s office said today.

Rather, the young man, Benjamin N. Smith, 18, of Chevy Chase, Md., will be charged by the U.S. attorney with unlawful entry onto Rowan’s property in northwest Washington. Smith’s companion, Laura Bachman, 19, of Bethesda, Md., will also face unlawful entry charges. The U.S. attorney’s office said that while it believes Rowan should be charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, it was leaving that decision to the city.