Ex-city councilor Rice pleads guilty to unauthorized computer access, fined $2,257

Former city councilor Chris Rice during his trial before the City Council in May 12 (City of Rochester screen capture)

ROCHESTER - Ousted Rochester city councilor Chris Rice pleaded guilty today in Brentwood Circuit Court to three charges of unauthorized access of official computer records while working as a Rockingham County Sheriff's Office dispatcher.
Rice, 32, of Ten Rod Road, who was removed from office in May following a trial that found him guilty of harassment, making fraudulent statements to city staff and retaliation, was arrested in September on charges he illegally accessed computer systems of police and the DMV while working as a Rockingham County Sheriff's dispatcher.
The charges accused him of trying to learn information about three individuals including one of his accusers at the City Council trial, Rochester City Councilor Ashley Desrochers.
The arrest complaint alleged that Rice "knowingly accessed a computer network ... the State Police Online telecommunication System (SPOTS), without authorization, to obtain the driver's license records of Desrochers, knowing that he is not authorized to do so."
Three charges of misuse of DMV records were not prosecuted.
Rice pleaded guilty today to unauthorized access of Desrochers' driver's license record on March 12, as well as unauthorized access to two other individuals' drivers license records on June 19 and Sept. 4.
The three charges are all Class B misdemeanors.
Rice was fined $744 apiece for the three counts of unauthorized access to official computer records. He has until Jan. 25 to pay a total of $2,257, which includes a $25 fee.
The Rochester Voice is not disclosing the other two individuals who were victims of Rice's snooping.
The complaints were filed in March, June and September, when an ongoing investigation by State Police led to his arrest.
The City Council on May 12 voted 9-3 to to remove Rice from the council on charges of harassment of Desrochers, making fraudulent statements to city staff and retaliation against Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan and Desrochers.
The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office was not immediately available for comment on Rice employment status.