Shepherd Receives 145-540 Years in Prison in Tyler Circuit Court

John Brian Shepherd
MIDDLEBOURNE – John Brian Shepherd, 58, was sentenced on Jan. 23 to 145 to 540 years in prison for multiple counts of sex-related crimes.
Tyler County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Cramer handed down the sentence during a hearing. The charges against Shepherd included five felony counts of sexual assault in the first degree, three felony counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, eight felony counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, and one felony count of incest.
Shepherd was given credit for time served, 239 days, and fined $56,000 in total, according to the Tyler County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecuting the case was Tyler County Prosecutor Luke Furbee and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Ledergerber.
Last November, Shepherd was convicted by a jury on 17 counts of sexual abuse during a four-day trial before Cramer.
During the trial, more than 20 witnesses were called during the trial. Before all the charges were sent to the jury, three of the charges were dismissed, which gave the jury 17 to consider.
Shepherd was originally set to go on trial in August but fled from his home confinement while out on bond. After he was captured he was kept in jail.