Republican sheriff candidate addresses 2023 DUI incident

Chris Rice discloses details of a 2023 DUI incident during his campaign for Shoshone County sheriff.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:06am

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A moody, cinematic painting of a lone police car parked on a deserted street at night, with warm streetlights casting long shadows, conveying a sense of solitude and contemplation around issues of law enforcement and public trust.The disclosure of a sheriff candidate's past DUI incident raises questions about judgment and accountability in law enforcement.Pinehurst Today

Chris Rice, a Republican candidate for Shoshone County sheriff, has addressed a 2023 DUI incident in a Facebook post. According to Rice's post, he was pulled over in August 2023 after returning from a trip to Montana, where he had consumed alcoholic beverages. Rice registered a blood alcohol content of .112% and 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.

Why it matters

The disclosure of this incident during Rice's campaign for sheriff raises questions about his judgment and fitness for the role, as well as broader issues around impaired driving and law enforcement accountability.

The details

In his Facebook post, Rice acknowledged making 'Mistake #1' by driving after consuming alcohol, and 'Mistake #2' by failing to use his turn signal, which led to the traffic stop. He stated that aside from two prior speeding tickets, the DUI incident was his only interaction with law enforcement as an offender. Rice said he has been proactive in disclosing the details of the incident to the local Fraternal Order of Police and the Shoshone County Republican Central Committee during the candidate vetting process.

  • In August 2023, Rice was pulled over and charged with DUI after returning from a trip to Montana.
  • Rice pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received a withheld judgment and one year of unsupervised probation.

The players

Chris Rice

A Republican candidate for Shoshone County sheriff who addressed a 2023 DUI incident in a Facebook post.

John Richter

The Pinehurst Police Chief, who is one of Rice's opponents in the sheriff's race.

Shawn Wehr

The Shoshone County Sheriff, who is the third candidate in the sheriff's race.

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What they’re saying

“I have not hid behind this but have been proactive in identifying my mistakes in-person before it would later come out.”

— Chris Rice, Republican candidate for Shoshone County sheriff

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

— John Richter, Pinehurst Police Chief

“I do not condone drunk driving. 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.”

— Chris Rice, Republican candidate for Shoshone County sheriff

What’s next

The voters of Shoshone County will decide the outcome of the sheriff's race in the upcoming election, where Rice's handling of the 2023 DUI incident is likely to be a key issue.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of law enforcement candidates being transparent about their own past interactions with the law, as well as the need for voters to carefully consider a candidate's judgment and decision-making when choosing their next sheriff.