Man indicted in Buena Vista
on multiple sex offense charges
John Rice, 42, has no criminal record, has lived locally all his life, is married, has two children, has a bachelor’s degree and a good salary from a telecommunications software company, where he has worked for 16 years.
“He’s a longtime member of the Rockbridge area. He’s got no prior [record],” said his attorney, David Natkin.
But an indictment returned by a grand jury in Buena Vista Circuit Court on Jan. 23 charges Rice with 30 felony charges of sodomy and consensual sex with a child.
When Rice learned of the charges against him, Natkin said, he turned himself in. He was released from jail six days later on $10,000 bond and ordered not to have any contact with the 15-year-old girl he is alleged to have had relations with.
According to the indictment, the relationship began in July 2007 and continued through mid-September.
Rice did not respond to several requests for comment. Natkin, his lawyer, acknowledged advising him not to speak to news media.
Natkin said he is not often called on to represent defendants accused of having sex with minors.
“It’s not that common of a thing here,” he said.
Aimee Bower, director of client services at Project Horizon, says it is difficult to identify when sex crimes occur because they are so underreported.
“People are still afraid, living in a small town, because the perpetrator is still out there,” Bower said.
Project Horizon is a nonprofit agency that advocates for victims of domestic, dating and sexual violence in the Rockbridge Area. Virginia’s sex offender registry lists 23 sex offenders currently living in Buena Vista. Ten of them have been convicted of sex crimes involving minors.
Buena Vista Police Chief A.J. Panebianco says four cases alleging sex crimes involving minors were reported in 2007, including Rice’s. The victims were girls ages 9, 10, 13 and 15. The charges ranged from battery to penetration with an object. Rice’s is the first case involving such charges to appear in Buena Vista Circuit Court this year.
No court date has been set for Rice, but Natkin says he will plead not guilty. Meanwhile, Natkin has filed motions asking the Commonwealth’s Attorney for details of the charges against his client and for information that might help in his defense.
Under state law, the charges against Rice could result in multiple sentences of five years to life in prison.
John Rice
(Rockbridge Regional Jail)
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