Sunday, January 21, 2018

Vineyard Owners Arrested for Eavesdropping... didn't hear it through the grapevine.

The owners of a Monroe County winery accused of recording customers and employees without their knowledge say they were surprised by their arrests and subsequent criminal charges.

Randy and Linda Rice, who own and operate Mountain View Vineyards in Hamilton and Jackson Townships, were arrested Thursday and charged with interception of oral communications and possession of devices utilized to surreptitiously record oral communications.

The Monroe County District Attorney's Office said it was tipped off in December that there was illegal wiretapping at the winery part of the business at 2332 Walters Road in Hamilton Township.

Detectives on Thursday found wireless surveillance cameras in the new winery, but no signs indicating the cameras were recording video and audio. Prosecutors say only two employees knew audio was being recorded and monitored. more sing-a-long