Supreme Court Upholds Rice Bond, Denies Judge Change
The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed bond for Dallas Rice in the Souris Valley Bowmen theft case while rejecting his request to replace the trial judge.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed its ruling allowing Dallas Rice to be released on a $5,000 personal appearance bond and denied his request for a change of judge. Rice faces two felony charges tied to more than $180,000 allegedly stolen from the Souris Valley Bowmen over three years.
Why it matters
The ruling determines Rice's pretrial status after Judge Gary Lee rejected a proposed plea deal, and the higher court's refusal to reassign the case keeps the matter before the original judge. It also advances a case in which prosecutors allege the group's president and treasurer took the money while in those roles.
Dallas Rice's bond was set at $5,000 personal appearance after the Supreme Court granted him the right to withdraw his plea. His jury trial is scheduled for January 19, 2027, in Minot, and a status conference is set for November 17, while the court has not yet ruled on a district-level change of judge.
The players
Dallas Rice
A former president of the Souris Valley Bowmen charged with two felonies in connection with the alleged theft of more than $180,000 from the group, who pleaded guilty before the plea deal was rejected.
Nichole Rice
The former treasurer of the Souris Valley Bowmen who pleaded guilty to one charge in the case and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Judge Gary Lee
The district judge who rejected the proposed plea deal and ordered Dallas Rice into custody.
North Dakota Supreme Court
The state's highest court, which affirmed the bond ruling and declined to assign a new judge in the case.
The details
Prosecutors say Dallas Rice and Nichole Rice stole the money while serving as the group's president and treasurer. Dallas Rice pleaded guilty, but Judge Gary Lee rejected the proposed plea deal and ordered him into custody; his attorney then appealed, arguing the judge erred by not allowing withdrawal of the plea and maintaining bond.
Timeline
September: Nichole Rice pleaded guilty to one charge and was ordered to serve 60 days in jail.
October: Judge Gary Lee rejected the plea deal and ordered Dallas Rice taken into custody.
November 6, 2026: The North Dakota Supreme Court issued its full ruling affirming bond and denying a change of judge.
November 17, 2026: Dallas Rice's status conference is scheduled.
January 19, 2027: Dallas Rice's jury trial is scheduled to begin in Minot.
Legal Context
The ruling applies North Dakota's criminal procedure rules on withdrawing guilty pleas and pretrial release to a rejected plea deal. It shows how the state's highest court handles bond and judge-reassignment disputes when a trial judge has already rejected a negotiated resolution.
The case involves funds allegedly taken from a local organization, so members and donors to community groups in the Minot area have a direct stake in the outcome. The court calendar, including the November 17 status conference and January 19 trial date, will determine when the matter is resolved.
The takeaway
Plea agreements remain subject to judicial approval, and a judge's rejection can reshape a defendant's pretrial status and trial timeline. Readers following local criminal cases can track scheduled hearings and trial dates in Minot to see how the matter proceeds.
What happens next
Dallas Rice has a status conference on November 17, 2026, and his jury trial is scheduled to begin January 19, 2027, in Minot.
Further reading
Explore more Criminal Justice coverage from Minot to see how similar pretrial and plea disputes unfold locally.
