Soap Lake man sentenced to more than 22 years for production of child pornography
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years AGO
Michael Gene Rice, 49, of Soap Lake has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison after pleading guilty in association with child pornography charges in July.
COURTESY PHOTO/DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS
SPOKANE — On Oct. 11, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Soap Lake resident Michael Gene Rice, 49, to 264 months and 27 days in federal prison for Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Rice pleaded guilty July 13, and the judge ordered Rice to pay $48,000 in restitution to his victim and be federally supervised for 10 years after being released from custody.
“Protecting our children is a top priority of my office,” U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref said. “Mr. Rice repeatedly engaged in harmful conduct taking advantage of our youth in the Eastern District of Washington. With our strong partnership with state and local law enforcement and prosecutors, we were able to successfully remove Mr. Rice from the streets and prevent him from further victimizing the most vulnerable among us.”
The statement said that according to court documents and proceedings, Rice was apprehended after an 11-year-old girl disclosed that Rice directed her to record herself on a phone engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The recorded footage was later found in Rice’s iCloud account. The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office also successfully prosecuted Rice on charges of First Degree Dealing in and Possession of Child Pornography, resulting in guilty verdicts after a jury trial, according to the statement. Sentencing is pending in that case.
Rice previously was convicted of Rape of a Child in the First Degree in 2002, for which he received a suspended sentence, according to the statement. The victim in that case was also 11 years old.
Combined with the time Rice spent in state custody prior to appearing in federal court, the federal sentence results in confinement for a total of 23 years.
“Grant County is a safer place after this significant sentencing,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are relentless in protecting the children of our communities and this result should serve as a warning to others that seek to target our children.”
According to the statement, this case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. The Grant County case is being handled by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carlee Bittle, who is also a special assistant United States attorney.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.