One of three candidates for Shoshone County sheriff addressed a 2023 DUI incident in a Facebook post over the weekend. 

Chris Rice, a Republican candidate for the office, published a lengthy post on his “Chris Rice for Sheriff” Facebook page in response to a post from a local resident who raised questions about the incident. 

According to Rice’s post, which is supported by court records, Rice was pulled over in August 2023 as he entered the driveway of his Kellogg home after returning from a short trip to Montana with his wife. 

“In August of 2023, my wife and I went into Montana for a nice dinner, played some keno, and while she had 7-Up and waters, I had some alcoholic beverages. When it was time to leave, my wife asked if I was fine. I told her that I felt fine and on the road we went. Mistake #1,” Rice wrote. 

Rice said “Mistake #2” occurred when he failed to use his turn signal while driving through Kellogg, prompting a traffic stop that led to the charge. 

According to the post, Rice submitted to a breathalyzer test and registered a blood alcohol content of .112 percent. Under Idaho law, a BAC of .08 percent to .19 percent falls within the standard DUI range. A BAC of .20 percent or higher is considered excessive. 

Rice was initially charged with driving under the influence but ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He received a withheld judgment and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation. The sentence was contingent upon payment of a $500 fine, participation in a victim’s impact panel and completion of 32 hours of sheriff’s labor. 

Rice was cited and released at the scene and was not arrested. He stated that aside from two prior speeding tickets, the incident was his only interaction with law enforcement as an offender. 

“I have not hid behind this but have been proactive in identifying my mistakes in-person before it would later come out,” Rice said. “35 years of my adult working life and college education I don’t sum up into one night of mistakes but rather how I run out the rest of my life from learning through consequences from that night.” 

Rice said in his post that he recently disclosed details of the incident to the local Fraternal Order of Police and the Shoshone County Republican Central Committee during the candidate vetting process. 

Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter, one of Rice’s opponents in the sheriff’s race, said he saw Rice’s post but declined to comment on the matter. 

“People have options, and they’re going to let their voices be heard at the ballot box,” Richter said. 

Shoshone County Sheriff Shawn Wehr, the third candidate in the race, also said he would not comment on the incident and agreed with Richter’s assessment of the voters’ role. 

On Monday, Rice issued a separate statement further addressing the post and his stance on impaired driving. 

“I do not condone drunk driving,” Rice said. “As I said in my post, it was a mistake I take ownership of. I truly believe alcohol affects people differently and that people should be aware that, although you think you are fine, you very well might not be. And that was the lesson learned in August of 2023.”