A 66-year-old Pocatello man was sentenced Thursday to three years fixed and up to 10 additional years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.
Sixth District Judge Robert C. Naftz sentenced Robert Wayne Shepherd on two felony counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16 and one felony count of intimidating a witness. Shepherd entered guilty pleas in July.
Naftz imposed a three-year fixed term followed by up to 10 years indeterminate on each child sexual abuse count. The witness-intimidation conviction carried three years fixed and up to two years indeterminate. The sentences will be served concurrently, making Shepherd eligible for parole after serving at least three years.
Shepherd received credit for 19 days already served. He was remanded to the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and was being held at the Bannock County Jail pending transfer to an Idaho Department of Correction facility.
Conditions and dismissed counts
The court also ordered Shepherd to register as a sex offender and barred him from contact with the victim through October 2036.
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed two other felony charges: aggravated lewd conduct with a minor 12 or under and inducing a minor into prostitution. Aggravated lewd conduct involving a child age 12 or younger carries a 30-year mandatory minimum sentence. The prostitution charge carried a possible life sentence and a maximum $50,000 fine.
Police investigation
Pocatello Police Department officers began investigating in March after the girl reported that Shepherd had sexually abused her repeatedly at several locations over more than a year. A forensic interview was conducted in April, and Shepherd voluntarily met with police on April 9.
During the case, Shepherd acknowledged he had “crossed the line,” and said he would have to face what he did.
Categories: Public Safety, Courts
Tags: Pocatello, Bannock County, child sexual abuse