ROBERT G. WANZA, d/o/b 1-10-1990, of Montgomery County, Texas, was sentenced to five (5) years in prison on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, for his role in the burglary of the Walgreen’s pharmacy, in Hollister, the night of December 3rd, 2016. Wanza entered a plea of guilty to the class C felony of burglary in the second degree, in the Circuit Court of Taney County, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office.

On the night of December 3, 2016 – just before midnight – alarms at the Hollister Walgreen’s store alerted Hollister Police of a possible break-in. Wanza was found driving a car, without lights, just outside the store. When a Hollister police officer initiated a traffic stop on the car around midnight, the occupants of the car fled on foot, leaving Wanza in the driver’s seat. Wanza was arrested. Surveillance video appeared to show two people breaking-into the Walgreen’s store and stealing pills – some of which were found in the car Wanza was driving. The physical description of the burglars matched the occupants of the car who escaped on foot. At least one of the two fleeing suspects was arrested later that same night. The investigation led officers to believe Wanza was the get-away driver for the burglars – all of whom were from Texas.

Circuit Court Judge Tony Williams sentenced Wanza to five (5) years in prison. This class C felony of burglary in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a $5,000.00 fine.