A Meeker County Sheriff investigator has been charged with a misdemeanor count of unauthorized computer access for allegedly accessing a deputy's e-mail account last May.

Det. Roberts Hall Pace III, 35, was charged March 5 in Meeker County District Court. The charge stems from a May 15, 2006, incident, in which Pace allegedly accessed a deputy's e-mail and forwarded a message regarding union meetings to recipients in the Sheriff's Office.

According to the complaint, the deputy reported that someone illegally accessed his account and forwarded the message, which made mention of problems the union was having with administration.

Investigators with the Dakota County Sheriff's Department, who investigated the case, traced the unauthorized access back to Pace's laptop.

The complaint states that Pace had been angry after learning about a union meeting he was not invited to attend. At the time, he reported to the Chief Deputy that deputies were having an illegal meeting.

Pace had allegedly told another deputy that he could gain access to employee's account by using an administrative password, according to the complaint.

Pace admitted to investigators he had been using his laptop at the time of the incident but denied accessing the account.

Pace's arraignment is April 17. The misdemeanor charge carries with it a penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.