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Pocatello council declines to overturn denial of solicitor license for artist with recent conviction
Summary
The City Council voted 3-2 to leave in place a Pocatello Police Department denial of a solicitor (door‑to‑door peddler) license for Rex Price after officials cited a recent conviction that triggers a municipal disqualification rule.
The Pocatello City Council on the evening of the meeting considered an appeal from Rex Price and voted 3-2 to decline a motion to overturn the Pocatello Police Department's denial of his solicitor's license, leaving the police department's denial in place.
The police licensing official told the council she denied the application under city code, citing a recent conviction. "I denied Mr. Price's application for a solicitor's license in accordance with city code 5.52 0.10083," Mallory Bascom, Pocatello Police licensing, told the council. Bascom told the panel her review found that "on 01/16/2025, he was convicted of 1 count of battery ... as well as 1 count of assault or battery upon certain personnel," arising from an incident in 2023 in which, she said, Price struck two nurses and a law enforcement officer while at a behavioral health center.
Price told the council the incidents were the product of untreated mental illness and a period when he was off his medication. "I had a solicitor license denied me because I have a violent charge on my record," he told the council, adding that he was now medicated, attending group sessions, living in assisted living and trying to sell copies of his artwork door to door to earn income. He said his application included a recommendation from his counselor.
Bascom explained that under the city code the licensing disqualification applies when a conviction involving violent acts is entered within the five years preceding the application. She also noted Price had disclosed the conviction on his application and provided a counselor's letter in support.
Council Member Mangum moved to overturn the denial; Council Member Nichols seconded the motion. The roll-call vote recorded Mangum and Nichols in favor and Council Members Cheatham, Warwick and Paulson opposed, causing the motion to fail and the denial to stand.
The council did not adopt any alternative conditions, such as a limited or supervised license, and the denial remains the final administrative action from the police licensing office unless the department or Price pursues further review outside the city process.
The mayor closed the item by asking that a council member or staff follow up with Price to explain the outcome and next steps.
