On Thursday, a man from West Virginia received his sentence after he removed his monitoring bracelet before his trial.
John Brian Shepherd, aged 58, previously residing in Shirley, has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from a minimum of 145 years to a maximum of 540 years.
Shepherd faced severe consequences for his actions as he was convicted in the Circuit Court of Tyler County. He was found guilty on 5 felony counts of sexual assault in the first degree, 3 felony counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, 8 felony counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, and one felony count of incest. Taking into account the time he had already served, which amounted to 239 days, Shepherd was sentenced to a fine of $56,000.
In August 2024, Shepherd made an appearance at Tyler County Circuit Court for the upcoming trial scheduled to commence on August 19th. Shepherd had been granted home confinement on the condition that he post a bond. However, after the court hearing, he allegedly cut off his bracelet and fled. Law enforcement authorities dedicated numerous hours to tracking down Shepherd during the subsequent manhunt.
On August 22, a vigilant citizen provided a crucial tip that led to the apprehension and subsequent arrest of Shepherd.
After the hearing, Shepherd was immediately sent to the Northern Regional Jail, where he has been held since August.