Colorado man accused of Clear Lake pharmacy break-in enters Alford plea to lesser charges

CLEAR LAKE — A Denver Colorado man accused of breaking into a Clear Lake pharmacy in 2018 has entered an Alford plea to lesser charges as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

31-year-old Brainard Clark is accused of forcing his way into the Thrifty White Pharmacy on November 11th 2018 and stealing more than $22,000 of pharmaceutical controlled substances. Clark failed to appear for his arraignment hearing in February 2022 but was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail in late June on charges of first-degree theft, a Class C felony, and third-degree burglary, a Class D felony.

Clark’s trial was scheduled to start on October 21st, but last week as part of a plea agreement entered an Alford plea to third-degree theft and third-degree criminal mischief, both aggravated misdemeanors. With an Alford plea, a person does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction.

According to the plea agreement, it will be recommended that Clark be given suspended two year prison sentences on each charge and be placed on two years probation.

Clark is due in court for a formal plea change hearing on October 27th.