Pocatello council upholds denial of taxicab license appeal for Terry Snead

The Pocatello City Council denied an appeal by Terry Snead to overturn a taxicab license refusal, voting to uphold a licensing decision the city said was based on a felony conviction.

The council voted to deny Snead's appeal during the Jan. 16 meeting after a public hearing in which Snead, who described the conviction as stemming from his use of a participant's debit card, asked for mercy and said he repaid the money. "I know the things I've done are not good, but I am hoping that you'll see beyond that to the person I really am," Snead told the council.

Mallory Bascom, Pocatello place licensing, told the council she denied Snead's application under Pocatello city code 5.56.050(E), which disqualifies applicants with felony convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude. Bascom said court records show an April 2024 conviction for felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, stemming from charges filed in November 2022 for incidents between October 2020 and May 2022. She told the council the report described charges using debit cards of two residents and listed more than $4,000 in questioned charges, primarily DoorDash orders, and that Snead received a 15-day sentence credited to time served and five years' supervised probation.

Snead acknowledged pleading guilty because he said he lacked documentary proof that he had repaid a client. He told the council the restitution figure he paid was roughly $1,568 ‘‘and some change’’ but that he had repaid fees and restitution within a year and was released from probation early.

Council members pressed Snead and staff on details including how many victims were involved and the amounts at issue. Bascom told the council the report showed two residents' cards were used; Snead said he was charged only for one victim. Council member Mangum noted concerns that Snead had represented to his employer that he already held a taxi license and had driven for roughly a year and a half without a city license.

Council member Mansfield moved to deny the appeal, saying that while employment is important to reentry, the charges involved exploitation of vulnerable adults and a continuing lapse in judgment and that Snead had driven without the required license. Council member Mangum seconded the motion. The roll call recorded six "yes" votes and the motion carried, leaving the licensing decision in place.

The council's action means the Pocatello Police Department's denial of a taxicab license will stand. Bascom said she had not found any prior city taxi license for Snead and that the employer had since reviewed and requested copies of employee licenses.