A Missouri National Guard member that faced a felony forgery charge has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of stealing. 39-year-old Melissa Ireland of Henley has been placed on two years of unsupervised probation. She could have faced seven years in prison if convicted in a trial that was scheduled to start this week.

Authorities said she forged a signature to get a 3000-dollar grant from a state relief fund for military members that she managed. Ireland is still a guard member but no longer manages the fund. The Guard has declined to say whether the conviction will result in discipline by the Guard.