Sunflower’s Gilliland pleads not guilty

PHOENIX – Michael Gilliland, Sunflower Farmers Market’s former chief executive, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of prostitution with a minor.

Gilliland was arrested Feb. 11 after allegedly trying to pay an underage girl for sex at a Phoenix hotel, according to a court document. An undercover police officer told Gilliland to bring cigarettes to the hotel because she was too young to purchase them and a store would not take her fake ID, according to the document.

The undercover officer allegedly told Gilliland twice that she was 17, according to the document. His next court appearance is scheduled to be an initial pretrial conference on April 21 in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix.

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The former CEO stepped down following the arrest and was replaced by Chris S. Sherrell as acting chief executive officer.

Gilliland founded Wild Oats Markets Inc. in Boulder. It was sold to Whole Foods Market for $565 million in 2007. He also owns and operates a 40-acre organic farm in Longmont.

Privately held Sunflower is headquartered in Phoenix. It has 32 stores in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Texas.