Repeat offender, with over twenty felony convictions, denied probation and sentenced to Missouri Department of Corrections
Brandy Mueller
Brandy Mueller, 47, of Branson, has been sentenced on felony meth possession charges and felony forgery charges in Stone County Circuit Court.
According to the Stone County Prosecuting Attorney, Matt Selby, Stone County Deputy Sheriff Devon Stegeman was performing her duties as a patrol officer on July 10, 2021, when she noticed a vehicle matching the description of one that was reportedly used in a crime earlier that evening. When the vehicle stopped at Rapid Roberts in Kimberling City, the officer pulled in to identify the occupants of the vehicle. A passenger got out of the vehicle, saw the officer, and then jumped back in the vehicle, which took off at a high rate of speed. Deputy Stegeman followed, activating her lights and siren, but the car continued south on MO-13.
The vehicle finally stopped after a few miles, and the same passenger then fled into the nearby woods. She was caught a short time later. The suspect was taken into custody. The vehicle was searched, and a small amount of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia was found in the car. Officers also located stolen property in the vehicle.
The defendant was arrested and taken to the Stone County jail. There, she was unable to produce any identification but said that her name was Angela Rich and gave a date of birth and other information that corresponded to the name she gave. She then signed all of her booking documents using the name Angela Rich. She continued to use the name Angela Rich after being placed in a cell with other inmates, who personally knew Angela Rich and knew that she was actually in the Greene County jail. That inmate informed jail staff that this defendant was using a false name. The staff followed up and determined that the defendant was actually Brandy Mueller.
The cases were presented to the prosecutor’s office, and the defendant was charged with possessing the methamphetamine and forging her booking documents by using a false name. Both charges are felonies.
On October 6, 2021, the defendant pled guilty to the charges, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 3, 2022. At the hearing, the defendant, through her attorney, asked the judge to give her another chance at probation. Prosecutors argued that this defendant has had over twenty felony convictions, has had numerous chances at probation in other counties and failed, and has been through several treatment programs. Many of her crimes have involved drugs, but she has had several convictions for crimes with victims such as burglary, theft, forgery, and assault.
After listening to the arguments, Presiding Judge David Cole denied probation and sentenced the defendant to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Prosecutor Selby stated that this defendant is a danger to society and has clearly demonstrated that she will not change with a criminal history spanning nearly three decades. He further stated that forging booking documents is a crime that can be serious because if the defendant had been released on bond and then not shown up, a warrant would have been issued for the person’s name that the defendant used. The prosecutor further commented that “thanks to the good work of several Stone County officers, including the awareness of Deputy Stegeman, this defendant was caught and is now where she cannot commit further crimes for at least a few years.”
Assistant prosecutor Brynna Howell prosecuted the case.
According to the Stone County Prosecuting Attorney, Matt Selby, Stone County Deputy Sheriff Devon Stegeman was performing her duties as a patrol officer on July 10, 2021, when she noticed a vehicle matching the description of one that was reportedly used in a crime earlier that evening. When the vehicle stopped at Rapid Roberts in Kimberling City, the officer pulled in to identify the occupants of the vehicle. A passenger got out of the vehicle, saw the officer, and then jumped back in the vehicle, which took off at a high rate of speed. Deputy Stegeman followed, activating her lights and siren, but the car continued south on MO-13.
The vehicle finally stopped after a few miles, and the same passenger then fled into the nearby woods. She was caught a short time later. The suspect was taken into custody. The vehicle was searched, and a small amount of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia was found in the car. Officers also located stolen property in the vehicle.
The defendant was arrested and taken to the Stone County jail. There, she was unable to produce any identification but said that her name was Angela Rich and gave a date of birth and other information that corresponded to the name she gave. She then signed all of her booking documents using the name Angela Rich. She continued to use the name Angela Rich after being placed in a cell with other inmates, who personally knew Angela Rich and knew that she was actually in the Greene County jail. That inmate informed jail staff that this defendant was using a false name. The staff followed up and determined that the defendant was actually Brandy Mueller.
The cases were presented to the prosecutor’s office, and the defendant was charged with possessing the methamphetamine and forging her booking documents by using a false name. Both charges are felonies.
On October 6, 2021, the defendant pled guilty to the charges, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 3, 2022. At the hearing, the defendant, through her attorney, asked the judge to give her another chance at probation. Prosecutors argued that this defendant has had over twenty felony convictions, has had numerous chances at probation in other counties and failed, and has been through several treatment programs. Many of her crimes have involved drugs, but she has had several convictions for crimes with victims such as burglary, theft, forgery, and assault.
After listening to the arguments, Presiding Judge David Cole denied probation and sentenced the defendant to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Prosecutor Selby stated that this defendant is a danger to society and has clearly demonstrated that she will not change with a criminal history spanning nearly three decades. He further stated that forging booking documents is a crime that can be serious because if the defendant had been released on bond and then not shown up, a warrant would have been issued for the person’s name that the defendant used. The prosecutor further commented that “thanks to the good work of several Stone County officers, including the awareness of Deputy Stegeman, this defendant was caught and is now where she cannot commit further crimes for at least a few years.”
Assistant prosecutor Brynna Howell prosecuted the case.