A Brevard County principal who was charged with possession of child pornography was granted bond in federal court in downtown Orlando on Wednesday morning.
The 59-year-old is fighting back against federal possession of child pornography charges.
The man says the child porn allegedly found on his computer was not put there by him.
At the time of his arrest last week, the man was the principal at a Brevard County school.
Federal prosecutors have charged the man with having thousands of child pornography images and videos on two computers at his home in Melbourne.
A digital forensic expert with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office testified that most of the videos are of young boys, between the ages of 4 to 12, performing sex acts or being raped. One of the videos included bestiality.
According to Brevard Public Schools, Sheppard has one official written reprimand for inappropriate gifts and comments to a first grade student back in 1999. That interaction was not deemed to be sexual in nature.
As a condition of his release, the man will not be allowed to use the internet. He will also be on GPS monitoring. The man will also not be allowed to have any contact with minors without the presence of a responsible adult.
He is on paid administrative leave while the school district is trying to terminate his employment.
If convicted, the man faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a lifetime of probation.
Have you been wrongfully accused of possessing child pornography? You are certainly not alone as this is a very common issue in child pornograhy cases. Many innocent individuals are surprised to find themselves facing serious sex crimes charges for an alleged crime they knew nothing about. With the vast amounts of technological trends as well as how effortless it is to distribute information these days, it is easier than ever for child porn to accidentally end up on anyone’s computer.
Child pornography can get on someone’s computer without anyone knowing through:
Our Florida Child Pornography Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know the terrible consequences of being falsely accused of a sex crime that you did not commit. This is why we fight aggressively to protect your reputation and your future. Sex crimes allegations involving children are widely condemned by society, which can affect your career and your reputation.
Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.