A grand jury indictment against Anna May Moreland, 34, of Ava, was unsealed Tuesday, and an active warrant has been issued for her arrest.
So far, authorities have been unable to find Moreland and her whereabouts are unknown.
In a document dated March 4 by the Douglas County Circuit Court, the grand jury charged Moreland with the class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance.
The indictment says that on or about June 8, 2010, Moreland went to Greene County and purchased hydrocodone, a controlled substance, for the purpose of distributing it to James Verow.
Verow, 34, a former Douglas County sheriff’s deputy, was charged by the same grand jury with five counts related to obtaining, possession and distribution of controlled substances. Verow was arrested and is currently free on $100,000 bond.
Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Wall said Moreland is a central figure to grand jury indictments involving Verow and former Douglas County jailer/dispatcher Casey Stephens.
Wall said Moreland had retained an attorney and was scheduled to surrender herself to the Missouri State Highway Patrol more than 10 days ago. That scheduled surrender failed to materialize, and Wall is concerned for Moreland’s welfare, as well as the fact that she is an indicted co-conspirator in a felony offense.
Wall stressed that the filing of any charges are mere allegations and that any defendant is presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in a court of law.
In the meantime, if anyone has information on Anna Moreland, they may contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 417-469-3121 or the Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney at 417-683-2919.
