Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that CHRISTOPHER HOWARD, dob: 12/05/1992 of Branson, Missouri entered an open plea without an agreement to the class B felony of robbery in the second degree in front of Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr Thursday.

On August 19th, 2010, CHRISTOPHER HOWARD entered the Shoe Carnival Store on Branson Hills Parkway and stole three pairs of tennis shoes. He ran out the door and jumped into a convertible being driven by another individual. A store employee ran after CHISTOPHER HOWARD, and during an attempt to stop the shoplifting was punched in the head by CHRISTOPER HOWARD and thrown to the ground from the moving vehicle. The store employee struck his head on the pavement and had to be air-lifted to a hospital in Springfield.
Formal sentencing is set for February 17, 2001. As there was no plea agreement, CHRISTOPHER HOWARD faces the entire range of punishment for the class B felony of robbery in the second degree of five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Department of Corrections.

ANDREW EVANS, dob: 8/6/1992 of Branson, Missouri is also charged and awaiting trial in connection with this robbery. Please be advised that the charge filed against the defendant is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.