From the U.S. Department of Justice:
A federal grand jury has indicted Craig Allen Shepperd, age 37, of Whitehall, Maryland, today for arson, witness tampering and threatening a federal law enforcement officer, in connection with a fire at a horse barn in Monkton, Maryland.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Baltimore Field Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Chief John J. Hohman of the Baltimore County Fire Department and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
“Threatening a law enforcement officer, a guardian of the public, demonstrates the highest disregard for our values as a society,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Theresa Stoop. “ATF works to preserve peace in our communities, and will not tolerate anyone who threatens the peace of our citizens, or those who have sworn to protect them.”
According to the seven count indictment, on August 26, 2010, Shepperd burned down a horse barn located at 2808 Shepperd Road in Monkton, Maryland. On five occasions from September 22, 2010 to October 12, 2010, Shepperd allegedly wrote letters attempting to intimidate or threaten an individual in order to prevent the testimony of that individual in an official proceeding. Finally, the indictment alleges that on March 8, 2011, Shepperd threatened to assault and murder a deputized federal law enforcement officer assigned to ATF.
Shepperd faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for arson, and for each of five counts for witness tampering; and 10 years in prison for threatening a federal law enforcement officer. Shepherd is presently in state custody on related and unrelated charges. No federal court date is scheduled at this time.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore County Fire Department and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney A. David Copperthite, who is prosecuting the case.
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