A Clay County man will spend 25 years in prison for sexually abusing children.
Wilber Shepard, 43, of Pheba, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery in Clay County Circuit Court Wednesday. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for each count, but the sentences will be served concurrently.
Deputies with Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shepard in June 2016 and charged him with multiple counts of sexual battery of a child and two counts of rape of a child. District Attorney Scott Colom said he was indicted on two counts of statutory rape and two counts of sexual battery, and that the statutory rape counts were dropped.
Shepard is related to the two victims.
Colom credited CCSO and Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks for their work on the case.
“(Shepard) used his position of authority and trust over his (victims) to sexually abuse them,” Colom said. “Thankfully this plea deal and sentence means he will most likely spent the rest of his life in prison without his (victims) having to testify and relive the nightmare.”
Shepard’s attorney, Ben Lang of Starkville, did not return a call from The Dispatch by press time.
Shepard’s wife, Tammy Shepard, was also arrested in 2016 for rape and accessory after the fact. She was found not competent to stand trial and is currently in a state hospital, Colom said.
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