By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
June 14, 2011

One Kansas City resident had a different take on helping out the tornado devastated town of Joplin, Mo. While helping with tornado clean-up, he also allegedly helped himself to four Apple laptops that belonged to the Joplin Missouri School District (JMSD).

Charles C. Rice, 41, has been charged with four felony counts of receiving stolen property and is currently in custody in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

According to Kansas City Missouri Police Department reports, KCPD was first contacted on June 12 by a computer technician about the stolen laptops.

The computer technician, who works for a computer technology company, told officers that Rice hired him to unlock a laptop several days ago. While unlocking the computer, the technician noticed a screen saver and software that belonged to JMSD. When he called JMSD employees about the laptop, they said that none of their laptops had been sold and no one should be in possession of them.

The next day, June 13, the computer technician contacted KCPD and said Rice wanted to meet him within the hour to unlock additional laptops. KCPD located Rice and arrested him on two unrelated warrants. With permission to search Rice’s vehicle, KCPD found three Apple laptops and a keychain in the ignition with a lanyard printed with the words “Joplin Schools Gifted Center.” KCPD contacted Jim Hounschell of JMSD, who confirmed the laptops were stolen. Detectives located a fourth stolen laptop that Rice pawned off at Cash America Pawn.

During questioning, Rice denied stealing the laptops and said he bought them at a cheap price at a local “swap-and-shop.” Rice first stated he bought only three laptops, and later admitted to buying four. Rice said he planned to sell the laptops to family members and lie to them about what he paid, so he could receive more money. KCPD received permission from Rice to search Rice’s cell phone and during the search, a woman called, who said Rice was the father of their child. Asked if she knew anything about the Apple laptops, she said, “No,” adding that Rice had been stranded in Joplin while helping with tornado clean-up.

Rice denied visiting Joplin, despite the fact that pictures of the tornado devastated town were found on his cell phone.