Dentist pleads not guilty to drug charges

Dr. Mark Brouillette, a longtime York dentist, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday afternoon in York County District Court.
Dr. Brouillette is accused of three Class II felonies regarding alleged distribution of a controlled substance. Law enforcement officials allege that he illegally provided prescription drugs to an undercover informant on three separate occasions. He’s facing a maximum of 150 years in prison (each count carries a possibility of 1-50 years) if he’s convicted.
He was taken into custody after what Nebraska State Patrol investigators called a seven-month investigation conducted through the Rural Apprehension Program (RAP), with cooperation from the York Police Department, the York County Sheriff's Department, the Nebraska Department of Health, the Drug Enforcement Administration and members of the RAP Drug Task Force.
Deputy Hamilton County Attorney C. Jo Peterson has been appointed as the special prosecutor in the case.
Dr. Brouillette remains out of jail, on a $100,000, 10 percent bond.
Dr. Brouillette appeared in court with his attorney, Kirk Naylor.
A discussion between the judge, the defense and prosecution established that three days will likely be needed for a jury trial, which was set for Sept. 3. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 4.
“You must keep coming back as ordered, on those dates,” Judge Alan Gless told Dr. Brouillette. “If you fail to come back, your bond will be revoked and you will get charged with another offense. Mr. Naylor will always know if you need to be here, and it is your responsibility to keep in touch with him. If he comes and you don’t — you’ll get busted, which means you get a place to stay.”