Rich Pleads Not Guilty in Drugstore Break-In

Former child actor Adam Rich, who played Nicholas Bradford in the television series “Eight Is Enough,” pleaded not guilty Wednesday to breaking into a West Hills drugstore in April.

Rich, 22, entered the plea during his Van Nuys Municipal Court arraignment on the felony charge of commercial burglary. Judge Kenneth Freeman scheduled a preliminary hearing on the case for July 3. Rich remains free on $5,000 bail.

Rich is charged in the April 6 break-in at the Medallion Prescription Pharmacy in the 23100 block of Sherman Place. Prosecutors said he broke two windows and entered the store to obtain drugs but then left without taking anything. He was arrested after officers answered the 4 a.m. alarm and arrived on the scene to see his BMW speed recklessly away from the pharmacy, prosecutors said.

Police said the break-in occurred shortly after Rich left a nearby hospital, where staff members had refused to give him pain killers when he complained of pain from a shoulder injury.

A day after Rich was charged in the burglary, he was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting socks and sunglasses from the Bullock’s Department Store at Northridge Fashion Center, police said. That case is pending.

Following his arrests, Rich entered a drug-abuse treatment program, which he completed before his arraignment Wednesday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Teri Hutchison said.