Wendell Sheppard, Fugitive, Is in Custody

Myron Wendell Sheppard, a fugitive from Jasper County who disappeared more than a year ago, has been taken into custody in Costa Rica, according to Jasper County Sheriff Charles Roper.

Mr. Sheppard is charged with child molestation. He was given a $100,000 bond on April 30, 2002, after being accused earlier that month.

Mr. Sheppard was indicted in August, 2002, on four counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation.

Mr. Sheppard was scheduled for arraignment last September, but his bond was revoked before that date. In court the week of September 2, 2002, Assistant District Attorney Dawn Baskin-Robinson requested that bond be revoked, saying that it appeared Mr. Sheppard had absconded. He had not been to his place of employment, nor seen by any friends or family.
{{more}}
A bond revocation hearing was set up for September 13, 2002, and notification was sent to Mr. Sheppard’s attorney of record, Althea Buafo in Macon.

Authorities have been looking for him since.

The sheriff said he was not clear how Mr. Sheppard came to be in custody in Costa Rica, but that authorities there determined he was wanted and held him.

Local authorities are working with Interpol on extradition to get Mr. Sheppard back to Jasper County, the sheriff said. He said he had no idea how long extradition will take, but indicated the proceedings are difficult and prolonged.