FORSYTH, MO – Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that CHAD MORELAND, dob: 03/21/1972 of Roland, Arkansas entered a “stand up” plea Wednesday to the class B felony of robbery in the first degree as a prior and persistent felony offender. Formal sentencing is set for November 18, 2010 in front of Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. As there was no plea agreement in this case, CHAD MORELAND faces the entire range of punishment.

On January 27, 2010, CHAD MORELAND entered the Great Southern Bank on West Highway 76 in Branson, approached the bank teller with his right hand in his pocket and demanded money stating, “this is a robbery, give me all your money.” The teller turned over her money and CHAD MORELAND fled from the scene. Branson Police were able to apprehend CHAD MORELAND from a license plate number taken down by an eyewitness. Formal sentencing is set for November 18, 2010. DNA swabs obtained from the teller window had been sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for testing.

As a prior and persistent felony offender, CHAD MORELAND faces the maximum range of punishment for the that of an A felony of up to thirty years, or life imprisonment in the Missouri Department of Corrections.