Rice admitted to City Manager Brian Loventhal on June 13 that she had sent the letter. She was immediately placed on administrative leave and terminated in less than 24 hours.

"Lisa said she was the one who prepared the letter. She was tired of the Padgetts harassing people, and they were intimidating her," City Attorney Kirsten Powell said.

Powell said Rice can't remember exactly what triggered the letter, which calls the Padgetts "perverts" and tells them to leave the city. "I know about you and soon everyone else will know," the letter reads. The letter was attached to a 1994 San Jose Mercury News article detailing Joe Padgett's resignation from the San Jose police force 11 years ago. According to Powell, he resigned after he was found guilty of five misdemeanor accounts of secretly taping himself having sex with his dates.

Powell said Loventhal, who had been accused by the Padgetts of sending the letter, was in shock after hearing Rice's confession. Powell said Rice came forward because she couldn't live with how the media was treating Loventhal.

"The council is very concerned and thinks this is shocking and reprehensible, and they don't condone it in any way," Powell said.

Powell added that city officials are relieved that Rice has come forward and that this wasn't "a grand conspiracy" to go after the Padgetts.

"It was about trying to get the Padgetts to comply with our ordinances," Powell said.

Powell said Rice, who worked the front counter of City Hall and answered phones, was constantly dealing with Joe Padgett's public records requests, pulling documents for him and making copies. Rice released a statement following her termination saying that she typed the letter to the Padgetts in "an emotional breakdown."

Rice had worked for the city for just over four years, making $36,000 annually. Public records requests now must go through Loventhal. He is also planning meetings with the front counter staff so they know how to deal with problem situations and feel comfortable bringing forward their concerns.

"We hope this will put an end to the Padgetts' attack on Brian and they will be able to move on and start their lives in Washington, and the city can move on and continue what it does," Powell said.