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Former investigator pleads guilty to accessing computer

Filed under:


Former Meeker County Sheriff’s investigator Roberts Hall Pace III pleaded guilty to unauthorized computer access Sept. 25 in Meeker County District Court.

The charges stem from a May 15, 2006, incident, in which Pace accessed a deputy's e-mail and forwarded a message regarding union meetings to recipients in the Sheriff's Office, according to the complaint.

An investigation by the Dakota County Sheriff's Department traced the unauthorized access back to Pace's laptop. Charges were filed March 5.

Pace, 36, was ordered to pay a $200 fine and $87 in court fees for the misdemeanor offense. Pace, who had been on unpaid personal leave for several months, voluntary resigned in August.

Stearns County Assistant County Attorney Michael Lieberg prosecuted the case.


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Wow, a whole whopping $287...

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Wow, a whole whopping $287 in fines for hacking into the county's computer system. Well, at least his career is toast, one less dishonest copper to worry about.


Submitted by LitchRes on October 9, 2007 - 8:05pm.

Has anyone actually asked...

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Has anyone actually asked this guy what his side of the story is? I saw articles in the paper but I don't ever remember a reporter asking him anything. When something like this happens wouldn't it be in the public's best interest to get both sides of the story? Since it was being handled by attorneys maybe he couldn't anyway.....

LitchRes - How does his plea make him dishonest? If he pled "guilty" that is admission, where is the dishonesty? Did he actually "hack" into the system? Did they ever release how this former Deuptie's email was actually accessed or did they leave that up to the readers imagination? There is alot to the story that I have/haven't heard that doesn't add up.


Submitted by YWeleave on October 30, 2007 - 4:56pm.

The man plead guilty....

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The man plead guilty. usually a guilty plead means just that... he is guilty. He had no right to be in the deputy's email account. The man had no business reading his email let alone gaining access to it in the first place. He is lucky he is not in prison.


Submitted by Lisa on October 30, 2007 - 5:33pm.

Lisa - All of their email is...

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Lisa -
All of their email is being monitored on a daily basis. What is the difference? If there really was that much "evidence" and they were able to track it as the report claimed why did this investigation take more than a year? Why were the fees so little? Why just the slap on the knuckles? Doesn't it make you wonder what was really found, what was really going on? Look at previous cases where this type of thing was involved, just gaining access and not even sending anything out. When the evidence was there, beyond reasonable doubt, they suffered huge fines or were imprisioned. Something doesn't seem right. You plead because we can't really figure it out and we will leave you alone. Can you imagine the kind of money the taxpayers spent prosecuting this. What about all of the cops that get plastered and drive home. What about the kind of danger they put EVERYONE in when that happens. Who says or does anything about that? What kind of a threat was this guy anyway? If what they claimed he did was worth the time and money spent on the case how is this outcome even possible?

He should run for Sheriff! It seems the criteria fits!


Submitted by YWeleave on October 31, 2007 - 9:46am.

yweleave, I was in...

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yweleave,

I was in agreement with you. The guy should of gotten time. The man got lucky. He had a lawyer who obviously made it so he did not do time which is wrong. the message being sent now to our youth who can do this, is this. yes you can and get a slap on your wrist being a first timer. This is wrong wrong wrong. Our criminal system at it's worst.


Submitted by Lisa on November 1, 2007 - 12:21am.

Where did I say that he...

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Where did I say that he should have served time? Please don't put words into my mouth.
What I said was:
"If there really was that much "evidence" and they were able to track it as the report claimed why did this investigation take more than a year? Why were the fees so little? Why just the slap on the knuckles? Doesn't it make you wonder what was really found, what was really going on?"
The justice system rarely does what it is set up to do and that is made obvious to us every day. This guy sent out an email from someone elses account which ultimately ended his 10+ year career. He didn't hurt anyone and he didn't put anyone elses life in danger. Yet all over this website you can see stories where people were killed, died tragic deaths, drove drunk, are beating eachother in domestic situations, abusing children, and this is the story that gets so much attention. How truly sick are we?
Based on past history with this agency I am a firm believer there was more to the story than what made the papers. Yet the paper never intereviewed the accused(s) or the interview never made the papers. I have heard numerous rumors, however choose not to relay them as they could be just that...rumors. If there ever proves to be validity to what I have heard showing there were other things actually going on and he was just another county target, I will be sure to post. There are always people willing to talk, but if you want the real story and not the "telephone" version, I say go to the source! Trust me, there are many that have suffered the same ill unnecessary and out of character fate. Check out the postings on "County Beefs up...."
What has been absent from every paper concernig this case is his on duty injury during the same time. From what I understand in speaking with a few deputies, this guy got hurt at work in the same timeframe that all of this happened. Whichever happened first, I don't know or care. Seems fishy though. Nothing like insult to injury. Truly sad.

Do unto others as you would have done unto you! Unless I have heard it from the source I choose not to believe everything I hear on the news or read in the papers. You are only getting the side of the story they want you to hear. Omission isn't truth.

Accessing it was wrong. Admiting it was right. So lets continue to punish this man and his family, right? I don't know this guy, but am in no position, nor is anyone else, to pass judgement, or point fingers.
It is just like with celebrities...Any publicity is still publicity. The more you talk about it, the more you give it a life, eventually no one knows or cares what "happened" and what are you left with? People talking about this guy day after day after day....Many will remember the good he brought to the community for over 10 years, the families he helped, the victims he helped to see justice, the children he protected, and the lives that were saved. You think he will win the next Sheriff's election?

Let the one without sin cast the first stone!


Submitted by YWeleave on November 1, 2007 - 9:56am.

You state that you dont know...

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You state that you dont know him, but you sure seem to know a lot about his history in the department and community? Until the last 24 hrs, this story got little attention by the Independent Review and its readers.

I would welcome the truth. Maybe the Independent Review should look this former deputy up and get to the bottom of it? I would welcome that! If he unknowingly accesses another employees email account and uses it for the wrong purpose...that is dishonest. Read the complaint, it is accessible via the internet.

Is this guy running for Sheriff? There were two comments to that effect...


Submitted by LitchRes on November 1, 2007 - 2:40pm.

Ooops. Made a mistake. I...

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Ooops. Made a mistake. I meant to say, if he(the deputy in question) knowingly (not unknowingly) accesses another employees email account and uses it for the wrong purpose, that is dishonest... The other deputy was unaware of it at the time.


Submitted by LitchRes on November 2, 2007 - 8:28am.

Anyone capable of reasearch...

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Anyone capable of reasearch can find these details. A name alone can land you many results. As far as the attention this is getting, I just came across the article and was curious about the history of the agency and the events surrounding it. It just seemed strange to me that so many others had left under same/similar circumstances. People that were highly regarded or had done very good things for the community up until their "resignations", "leave of absences", or "terminations". Nonetheless...you are right, this doesn't deserve any further attention. Thanks Litch Res!


Submitted by YWeleave on November 2, 2007 - 10:23am.

Amazing how this story...

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Amazing how this story thread, the "County Beefs Up" thread and the FBI thread all seem to tie together somehow and have the same underlying factors....the Sheriffs Dept. I hope the reporters at the Independent Review are figuring this out also. I commend them for printing the stories and allowing the posts. It wasnt all that long ago that I doubt it would have happened. Keep up the good work Independent Review!


Submitted by LitchRes on December 9, 2007 - 10:58am.

Hmm...follow the...

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Hmm...follow the breadcrumbs. This gets more and more interesting. Things like electoral fraud come to mind. Perhaps an interview of Mark Shoutz could provide possible insight. I believe it was he who lost the last election.

How far up does the corruption run? A $287 fine for what amounts to what could be construed as conspiracy? Was Investigator Pace the Fall Guy? Did he plead guilty to a friendly judge to distract attention from the real decision maker? At this point that seems like a likely scenario.


Submitted by Slikweasel on December 9, 2007 - 12:07pm.

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