BENSON -- The Benson Police Department has announced that one of three suspects in the Oct. 16, 2009, burglary of Breen's Pharmacy in Benson has pleaded guilty to burglary.
James Michael McClintock, 55, of Hanceville, Ala., entered a guilty plea Thursday and was convicted of second-degree felony burglary in connection with the crimes in Benson and two other pharmacy burglaries: one in Olivia and one in Dawson.
McClintock was sentenced to 21 months in prison and was transported to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. Two other Alabama men are also suspects in the crime but have not been charged.
"McClintock ... burglarized several pharmacies in the upper Midwest in late 2009," Benson Police Chief Jim Crace said. "Solving this case was an example of multiple agencies working together for a common goal."
McClintock was convicted under Minnesota statutes for the burglary; however, he may yet face federal charges for transporting the stolen drugs over state lines and conspiracy charges relating to the sale of the stolen narcotics, Crace said.
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Charges may be filed against the other suspects in the near future as Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI officials tie up loose ends in Alabama regarding the cases, said Crace. Once the investigation in Alabama is complete, a decision will be made by the U.S. Attorney's Office on the federal charges, he said.
"It was beneficial to have the FBI and the DEA work with us on (the suspects') connections to Alabama. They have resources that are simply not at the disposal of local jurisdictions," said Crace. "With that said, these cases were solved by the hard work of local officers in Benson, Montevideo, Dawson and Olivia."
