Mason City man enters guilty plea to felony theft

CLEAR LAKE – A Mason City man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a struggling Clear Lake restaurant before it closed for good has agreed to plead guilty to a felony theft charge.

The Denny’s restaurant located at 2411 Highway 18 East in Clear lake closed on or about September 14. Just two days prior, on September 12, the area manager for Denny’s contacted Clear Lake police to report a loss of money from the business.

After an investigation, Clear Lake police arrested and charged 50-year-old Rufus Manuel of Mason City with to counts of second degree theft, a class D felony, for the theft of money taken from the Denny’s restaurant. The dollar amount taken was over $1,000 but less than $10,000. The incidents allegedly too place on August 13 and September 12, 2014. Manuel was employed at Denny’s for a number of years and was at times in charge of the restaurant.

Manuel initially pleaded not guilty. On January 20, however, Manuel’s public defender entered a guilty plea to one count of felony second degree theft. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Manuel could face up to five years in prison.