Charges dropped for now against Mason City man accused of dealing drugs near Clear Lake school property

CLEAR LAKE — Charges have been dropped against a Mason City man accused of distributing drugs near school property in Clear Lake.

A criminal complaint filed by the Clear Lake Police Department stated that between August and December in 2022, 43-year-old Robert Beek distributed meth to a person under the age of 16 near Lions Field, and that Beek did it again to a person under the age of 17 near Lions Field between April and June of 2023.

Beek was arrested earlier this month on two charges of distributing controlled substances near school property, with each charge being a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

According to court documents filed earlier this week, prosecutors say that after further communication with law enforcement that they did not find sufficient probable cause exists at this time to further pursue prosecution of the charges, and asked the court to dismiss the complaint “without prejudice”. That terminology means prosecutors could refile the case at a later date.

District Magistrate Judge William Morrison issued an order on Thursday dismissing the case.