Mason City man pleads not guilty to drug charges after September traffic stop

MASON CITY — One of two Mason City men arrested on drug charges last month has pleaded not guilty.

60-year-old Mark Albrecht and 68-year-old Bruce Sogard were arrested on September 19th after the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a narcotics trafficking investigation which included a vehicle traffic stop on Interstate 35 near Swaledale. A search of the vehicle allegedly resulted in about eight pounds of methamphetamine being located, as well as an ounce of cocaine, and other small amounts of meth and marijuana.

Sogard was charged with: possession of meth with the intent to deliver, a Class B felony; possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver, a Class C felony; as well as driving under suspension. Albrecht was arrested for: possession with the intent to deliver cocaine; possession of meth, a Class D felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.

Albrecht filed a written plea of not guilty to the charges on Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. A trial date was not immediately published in court records.

Sogard’s arraignment hearing was also scheduled for Monday but has been continued to next Monday.