Home › News › Crime news
Former Indiana sheriff accused of molesting child in Fort Myers
Photo courtesy Evansville Courier-Press
Related Links
More Crime news
- Collier County Police Beat: Dec. 3, 2008
- Lee County Police Briefs: Dec. 3, 2008
- Naples man faces battery charges after night of swinging
Tell us about it
- What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
- Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
- Upload photos & videos
- More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.
STORY TOOLS
Share and Enjoy [?]
A former Vanderburgh County, Indiana sheriff has been arrested on accusations he molested a young girl at his Fort Myers home.
Clarence Shepard, 76, is charged with committing lewd or lascivious molestation with a victim under 12 years of age. Shepard, a two-term sheriff from 1983 to 1991, was booked into the Lee County jail early Thursday morning.
Shepard, a former president of the Indiana Sheriffs Association who served more than 20 years on the Evansville Police Department before winning his first term as sheriff, retired to Fort Myers in the early 1990s. His arrest comes less than a week after a return visit to the Evansville area, during which time he visited former co-workers and toured the new Vanderburgh County Jail.
Lee County authorities began investigating Shepard Wednesday night, after the victim told her mother Shepard had touched her inappropriately, forced her to kiss him and made her touch his leg, according to a probable cause affidavit. Authorities say the Shepards have been friends with the victim’s family for about four years.
In an interview with detectives, the victim said she was talking with Shepard and his wife in their driveway when he offered to take her inside to show her his wife’s collection of porcelain dolls, the affidavit said.
Inside, detectives say Shepard touched the girl inappropriately and then led her to his bedroom, where he laid down and told her to give him a kiss.
“... When the victim went to give him a kiss on the cheek, Mr. Shepard turned his face and made her kiss him on the lips,” the affidavit said, adding he repeated the act again a moment later.
According to the affidavit, the victim told police Shepard then asked her to scratch his leg and to “move up his leg and then to the middle.”
The victim reportedly then told Shepard she had to go home for dinner, at which point she alerted her mother to the incident. Deputies responded about 7:40 p.m.
After authorities interviewed the victim, Shepard was brought into the sheriff’s office headquarters for questioning. Deputies say he invoked his rights and declined to speak with them. He was booked into jail shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams hosted Shepard at the Vanderburgh County Jail, which also serves as department headquarters, during a visit Shepard made to Evansville Oct. 1. In an interview afterward, the former sheriff praised the facility’s design and its video court system.
Williams, who was hired by Shepard in 1987, had not heard about his arrest Thursday.
After reading the probable cause affidavit, Williams cautioned that Shepard is innocent until proven guilty. But he called the allegations disturbing.
“Unfortunately in this world, you just never know about people,” Williams said of the former sheriff.
No bond information was available Thursday.
A trial has been scheduled in Lee County Circuit Court for Nov. 10.
Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.
Again I say ..
"assault with a dead weapon"
#1 Posted by Biff on October 9, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Biff: How crass of you to invoke jocularity out of this sordid incident.
#2 Posted by flatbroke on October 9, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After the trial deport him
#3 Posted by paulmoral on October 9, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks
#4 Posted by Biff on October 9, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow,
A former law enforcement person doing that. He must have known he would get busted.
Nice try gramps,
Maybe you'll still get to see the cows and sheep, after your time is up.
#5 Posted by news_hound1 on October 9, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice! Why am i not surpised. What is it with sheriffs and swfl? Hell, what is it with swfl?
#6 Posted by rasputin on October 9, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ras, go anywhere in any populated area in the US, and you will read about the same things. A trip to Detroit would prove that, and then some.
Where the heck are you from .... Alaska?
#7 Posted by news_hound1 on October 9, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
news, i honestly can not think of anywhere that has had 2 sheriffs under investigation for hatch act violations (within the same year nonetheless), and now a retired sheriff is accused of child molestation. Something has to be wrong with the water?
Sometimes i wish i was in alaska...
#8 Posted by rasputin on October 9, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with rasputin. (Never thought I would ever type that sentence)
Only in Florida could this happen.
#9 Posted by volochine on October 10, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey!!! The guy was sheriff in Indiana. Not in SWFL. He RETIRED to Ft. Myers.
I wonder how many girls he attacked when he was sheriff
#10 Posted by ricky369 on October 10, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In an interview with detectives, the victim said she was talking with Shepard and his wife in their driveway when he offered to take her inside to show her his wife’s collection of porcelain dolls...... at what point did his wife disapear ??? no honey you take the nice 12 year old inside and show her my dolls and molest her.... GEEZ ....
#11 Posted by obwon on October 10, 2008 at 4:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
just sick, deport him back to ummmm.... mexico???
#12 Posted by naples537 on October 10, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is it with these old men? I have come to the conclusion that evidently once you reach a certain age you just want sex it doesn't matter who or what it's with. Remember several months ago CCSO busted a bunch of old men I believe near Wiggins Pass for trying to solicit sex from male officers.
I have told the wife if I get older and start giving the dog that look to please just shoot me right between the eyes before I end up in the NDN.
#13 Posted by TSOL on October 10, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Off to Sun City Center with him!
#14 Posted by nativeone on October 10, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TSOL - I agree, it must be the heat and humidity going to their head and swelling their brain.
Why do I give a leaping lizard how this pervert spent his visit up north? As far as Im concerned, he should have stayed.
#15 Posted by SandnSurf on October 10, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#12 -just sick, deport him back to ummmm.... mexico???
There are already plenty of sick gringos in Mexico who are running away from justice...and continue their sick games...better yet..castrate them...give them a sex change..turn them into women...that will show them.
#16 Posted by NYEM on October 10, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
is there any possibility that this girl is making this up? i mean, it does not take much to have a guy arrested for a sex crime. all you have to do is tell the police it happened. there will be no physical evidence here. is nobody bothered by that?
#17 Posted by justsoyouknow on October 10, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#18-little girls don't make up these kind of stories....the dirty old men do.
#18 Posted by livinginnaples on October 10, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am being to tough when i ask to castrate them...cut off their genitals and surgically make a vagina out of what's left...When they wake up from the surgery...they will know they will never hurt any young boy or girl again...
#19 Posted by NYEM on October 10, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justsoyouknow: I just can't believe you said that. Yes, there are ladies who say stories sometimes. But there is not reason or motive for stories here. And we are talking about a girl under 12.
#20 Posted by ricky369 on October 10, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
to posts #3 and #12...deport him? no where in this article does it state that he was not born in this country. what he did was heinous, but deport him? where? back to indiana?
#21 Posted by djmc831 on October 10, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah ,ricky369, 12 year olds NEVER lie.
in fact, pre-teens are known for their honesty and reliability. well, in that case, no need for a trial. just hang 'em now.
#22 Posted by justsoyouknow on October 10, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#22 djmc831
People who despise illegals have this thing where they read the headlines expecting to find another mexican illegal commiting a crime but are sometime surprised with someone who looks just like them...
...so they associate anything vile, abhorrent, abject, abominable, atrocious, bad, base, coarse, contemptible, corrupt, debased, degenerate, degrading, depraved, despicable, disgusting, egregious, evil, felonious, filthy, flagitious, flagrant, foul, hateful, horrible, ignoble, impure, infamous, iniquitous, loathsome, low, lowly, mean, miserable, nasty, nefarious, obnoxious, odious, offensive, outrageous, profligate, putrid, repulsive, revolting, scurvy, servile, shameless, shocking, sickening, sinful, sleazy, sordid, ugly, unpleasant, vicious, vulgar, vulturine, vulturous, wicked, worthless, wretched to illegals aliens...
#23 Posted by NYEM on October 10, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
VeniVidiVici,
#23
So when are you leaving?
#24 Posted by fromhere on October 10, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Justsoyouknow: Come smarty pants!!! Tell me what motive could this little girl might have to lie about this. By the way, the report says she is UNDER 12. It doesn't says her age. She might be 8y/o for all we know. WHY WOULD SHE INVENT THAT STORY???
#25 Posted by ricky369 on October 10, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this man would fit right in with the Lee County Sheriff Department.Right Mike?
#26 Posted by iceberg on October 11, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
I know about people,no people i know would do such a thing. Inmate # 955430
#27 Posted by newzhound2 on October 13, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Newz,
You've stole my name. Now, you will get credit for all of my sarcastic posts here.
What gives ... stay in Berkley Mich., or where ever the heck you came from.
BTW, hope you upstaged Donny! Can't wait for the CD.
#28 Posted by news_hound1 on October 13, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First What doe's Detroit have to do with this?
Second, no Sheriff up here has done anything like that, well maybe murder! and news1,I don't post sarcastic. BTW,we did.
#29 Posted by newzhound2 on October 14, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)