MELISSA A. ELLIOT (d.o.b. 5-25-1970), of Harrison, Arkansas, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 19, 2014, to felony charges of stealing and possession of controlled substance, in two (2) different cases. Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter – filling-in for the late Mark Orr – sentenced Elliot to the maximum sentence of four (4) years in prison on the class D felony of stealing, and four (4) years for the class C felony of possession of a controlled substance. Probation was denied.

Elliot was charged with stealing from Walmart, at Branson Hills Parkway, in Branson, in January of 2014, by stealing a pair of pants, exchanging them for a store gift card, and leaving the store without paying. Although the value of the pants was only $20.00, Elliot was able to be charged with a class D felony because of multiple prior misdemeanor stealing convictions.

About a week after stealing from Walmart, Elliot was pulled-over by a Taney County deputy for driving a truck bearing license plates from another vehicle. Elliot lied to the deputy about her identity before eventually surrendering a small baggie of methamphetamine and confessing her true identity.

Elliot’s sentences were the result of a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office, and are to run concurrently with one another.