A Cleves man who according to prosecutors had videos of infants and children as young as 1 year old being sexually assaulted is being investigated for possible crimes involving local children.
Robert Shepard faces charges including 18 counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving children. He was indicted Nov. 19 but at an arraignment on Nov. 26 in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, prosecutors asked for a higher bond. Shepard, 50, was initially held on bonds totaling $625,000, records show.
After Assistant Prosecutor Elyse Deters outlined the case – noting the possibility that Shepard sexually abused actual children – Judge Patrick Dinkelacker increased the bond amount to $1.9 million.
In an interview outside the courtroom, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich called the crimes “extremely depraved.”
“I want to make sure that the community knows that there may be more victims out there” Pillich said. “If you recognize Mr. Shepard’s face, please ask questions and talk to authorities.
Shepard was arrested and jailed on Nov. 10. He initially told investigators about one electronic device, prosecutors said, but more were eventually discovered.
A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to Shepard’s arrest.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man charged in sex abuse videos case may have preyed on local children
Reporting by Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
