Unsealed court documents have revealed details of the investigation into the alleged theft of about $180,000 from the Souris Valley Bowmen, a local archery club, by a Minot couple.

Dallas Rice and Nichole Rice were charged as co-defendants on Thursday, March 12, in North Central District Court. Both face one count of conspiracy to commit theft in excess of $50,000, a Class A felony. Dallas Rice faces an additional Class A felony charge of theft over $50,000, while Nichole Rice faces a separate Class B felony charge of theft between $10,000 and $50,000.

Court documents allege that both individuals exercised unauthorized control over the club’s finances, though to different degrees. Dallas Rice reportedly told investigators and club officials that his wife had no knowledge of or involvement in the alleged theft – a claim contradicted by evidence presented in the affidavit of probable cause.

The charges come nearly one year after Nichole Rice was acquitted in a high-profile cold case murder trial in Grand Forks. She had been arrested in March 2022 and charged with the 2007 stabbing death of her then-roommate, Anita Knutson. After years of delays and significant statewide and national media attention, the trial concluded with a not guilty verdict in early April 2025.

According to the affidavit, a Ward County Sheriff’s Department detective met with Souris Valley Bowmen board members in July 2025 after they discovered a large sum of money missing while investigating a bounced check. The board identified Dallas Rice, who had served as club president for several years, as the primary suspect. Nichole Rice had also held the roles of club secretary and treasurer.

Investigators reviewed club records indicating that Dallas Rice proposed in May 2022 that the organization issue two debit cards for members to “sign out.” The club estimated that about $160,000 had gone missing from two accounts over a period of two to three years.

At a July 14, 2025, board meeting, Nichole Rice reported that the club’s checking account held more than $93,000 and the gaming account held about $9,400. However, the club’s gaming manager presented actual account statements showing both accounts held a combined balance of roughly $1,200.

Dallas Rice subsequently admitted to using club funds for personal expenses and agreed to repay $160,000, which the club received on July 18, 2025. A further review of bank records by investigators calculated total unauthorized transactions of $183,525.62 across both accounts.

The transactions included ATM withdrawals, retail and online purchases, utility bill payments and a veterinary visit. Investigators also linked a number of specific purchases to Nichole Rice through her name, phone number, email address and retail rewards accounts.

During his interview with investigators, Dallas Rice maintained he had only occasionally given his wife one of the debit cards for legitimate club purchases and denied knowledge of any unauthorized use on her part. Investigators noted, however, that employment records showed Dallas Rice was clocked in at work at the time several of the disputed transactions took place.

Neither of the Rices has been arrested. Both were served with a summons to appear for an initial hearing on April 7 at 9 a.m. at the Ward County Courthouse in Minot. The state is represented by Assistant Attorney General Jeremy Ensrud.

Dallas Rice faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each Class A felony count. Nichole Rice faces up to 20 years on the conspiracy count and up to 10 years on the Class B felony theft charge.