The Clackamas County District Attorney’s office has determined there is
“insufficient evidence to proceed” on charges brought against two Mountain
residents.

At a preliminary hearing held Feb. 25 for Carson Barden, 30, Deputy District
Attorney Sarah Dumont told The Mountain Times that the state filed a motion
to dismiss his charges “in the best interests of justice.”

Jonathan Brady, 27, is scheduled today (March 1) for arraignment, but
Dumont indicated she would not pursue charges against him as well.

Barden and Brady were apprehended by Sandy Police, Clackamas County
Sheriff’s deputies and an Inter-Agency Task Force following a Jan. 5 break-in
at The Whistle Stop restaurant in Wildwood and the Wall Street Pizza parlor in
Sandy. Owners of the two establishments estimated more than $4,000 in
receipts and damage from the burglaries.

At the time Barden and Brady were held on $52,500 bail and faced charges of
Burglary II, Criminal Mischief I, Theft I and Theft II, according to the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Subsequently, Brady posted bail and Barden was released on his own
recognizance Jan. 28, according to Dumont.

“The case is a bit odd as they were codefendants, but when Brady posted bail
they were put in a different posture,” Dumont said, explaining the separate
hearings.

“Barden was still in custody so we had to separate their appearances.”
Dumont indicated that the Sandy Police Department was continuing the
investigation.