Sexual battery charges filed against Brazil man

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- A Brazil man is being held at the Putnam County Jail after allegedly violating his probation.

Keith A. Shepherd, 33, who was on probation for a November conviction for misdemeanor battery, has now been charged with Class D felony sexual battery and Class A misdemeanor public indecency in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on Feb. 22 at the Putnam County Public Library.

According to court records, Shepherd was found exposing himself to and fondling the breasts of a Putnam County Comprehensive Services consumer in a stall in the women's bathroom at the library.

"It was requested that an investigation be conducted due to the mental capacity of the female being so low that she would be unable to consent to such activity," a report prepared by Greencastle Police Department Detective Randy Seipel said.

Shepherd and the alleged victim were discovered in the bathroom by a skills training specialist from PCCS. She said she went to the bathroom to check on the consumer, and heard the consumer saying "No, don't, bad touch."

"She pushed open the stall door to find the victim with her pants partially down and her shirt partially up," court records said.

The witness said she saw Shepherd take his hand away from the alleged victim's breast, and that his pants were down and his genitalia was clearly exposed.

Shepherd, a former PCCS consumer, was described by PCCS staff as "mildly challenged," but they also said he "knows right from wrong and this is something that he would know was inappropriate."

The alleged victim has the mental capacity of a preschooler, court records said.

Court records also stated that Shepherd called the alleged victim's mother a year ago to ask the alleged victim could spend the night at his house.

Shepherd was told no, and he was removed from PCCS for disciplinary reasons.

After his arrest, Shepherd told police he was in the women's bathroom at the library because he had to use the restroom and the men's room was full. He said the alleged victim pulled him into the stall and tried to get him to touch her.

Shepherd eventually confessed his story was a lie, court records said.

On Friday, Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter filed a petition to revoke Shepherd's probation.

No court dates have been set in the revocation case or for the new charges.

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