A Palm Coast man already on probation for burglary and theft charges is facing new charges after deputies say he tried to beat a court-ordered drug test using a homemade device strapped to his body.
James Shepard, 52, was pulled over on July 14 as he arrived for a scheduled drug class, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say he was driving on a suspended license, a violation of the felony probation he was serving for multiple burglary and theft convictions.
Deputy Finds Device During Arrest
During the arrest, deputies say Shepard was found with a rigged device strapped to his groin area, built with a fake bladder of liquid connected to a heating pad. The setup appeared designed to help him pass a urine test with a substance that was not his own.
While being taken to jail, Shepard told the deputy he had a shoulder injury, so his handcuffs were moved to the front for comfort.
Deputies say he then used his hands to pull the device out and threw it onto the floor of the patrol car. When asked about it, he denied it belonged to him, though the entire incident was recorded on the patrol car’s camera.
Sheriff Rick Staly said Shepard had already received a lenient sentence considering his criminal history. According to the sheriff’s office, Shepard’s sentencing scoresheet made him eligible for at least nine years in prison for the earlier burglary and theft cases, but he was instead placed on community control.
New Charges Filed After Incident
Shepard now faces charges including driving without a valid license, violating probation, defrauding a drug test, and tampering with evidence.
He was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being held without bond.
The sheriff’s office post about the arrest drew heavy engagement online, with many commenters reacting to the writing style of the post itself.
Lynn Juve Schroeder wrote,
“The author of these posts needs a huge raise, immediately.”
Linda Hahn Thompson said,
“Give your social media writer a raise.”
Debbie Miller Stanley joked that Shepard brought props and a heating pad but forgot the most important ingredient, common sense.
Beth Gerbracht asked why the device was not discovered during the initial pat-down at the time of arrest.
Florida Rarity questioned whether the items alone would have been considered illegal had Shepard simply admitted to having them from the start.
The case remains under investigation as Shepard awaits further court proceedings on the new charges connected to the arrest.
