Latest Legal News from the Federal Criminal Courts in the United States

APRIL 5, 2007

FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN AMARILLO CHARGES WOMAN WITH MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

AMARILLO, Tx. --- A federal grand jury in Amarillo has returned a one-count indictment charging Kristina Marie Sheppard, 31, of Canyon, Texas, with one count of making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

The indictment states that Sheppard falsely stated that a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper violated her civil rights by falsely arresting her for driving while intoxicated, and by driving her to a secluded road before being taken to jail. She also stated that the Trooper made sexually suggestive remarks leading her to believe that he was about to sexually assault her, when she well knew that none of those allegations were true.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, Sheppard faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.