Suspended sentence for Denver Colorado man who broke into Clear Lake pharmacy in 2018

CLEAR LAKE — It’s a suspended prison sentence and probation for a Denver Colorado man who entered an Alford plea after being accused of breaking into a Clear Lake pharmacy in 2018. 

31-year-old Brainard Clark was 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 earlier this month entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, entering 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.

Prosecutors as part of the plea agreement agreed to recommend that Clark be given suspended two year prison sentences on each charge and be placed on two years probation, a recommendation District Judge Chris Foy agreed with when sentencing Clark last week in Cerro Gordo County District Court.