BRANDON B. WILLITS, d/o/b 08-28-1982, of Branson, pleaded guilty to class C felony stealing a firearm Thursday, February 14, 2013. Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr sentenced Willits to five (5) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, pursuant to a plea agreement.

On or about June 29, 2012, Willits had stolen a .22 caliber rifle from a home where he had been hired to do some yard work. He attempted to sell the rifle to a pawn shop in Springfield the same day as the theft, but was unsuccessful. Taney County Sheriff’s deputies found Willits in a pickup with the rifle and two other people, in Branson, late on June 29th. The pickup’s driver gave officers consent to search the truck and confessed to deputies that he had driven Willits to Springfield so that Willits could try to sell the rifle. The serial number on the rifle recovered from the pickup matched that on the stolen rifle deputies were searching for.

The class C felony of stealing a firearm carries a maximum sentence of not more than seven (7) years in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000.00.