INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 34-year-old Vero Beach man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to an armed robbery where narcotics were stolen from a woman’s lanyard.
The man – identified as Kerry Shephard – pointed a firearm at the victim before saying, “Give me all you got,” reports show. The victim ran and screamed for “help.”
Indian River County deputies arrested Shephard in May on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon, authorities said. Shephard pled guilty to the offense last week.
Deputies said Shephard was riding in a car with the victim and another woman about 2 a.m. March 18 near U.S. 1 and Oslo Road. The victim told deputies she met Shephard and the other woman through a mutual friend.
Shephard, who was driving, stopped the vehicle, pulled out a firearm and demanded the victim take off her clothes, reports show. The victim refused and tried to escape by climbing out the rear window, reports show.
Shephard took the victim’s cell phone and then grabbed her feet. The second woman got out of the car and snatched the victim’s necklace, which had a pouch containing eight prescribed pain reliever pills, before the victim was able to get away, reports show.
The victim ran from the vehicle until she reached a McDonald’s in the South Vero Square, where she called 911, reports show.
Sheriff’s detectives think Shephard could have been involved in other crimes during this time, but victims and witnesses might have been afraid to come forward. Anyone with additional information about Shephard should contact Detective Michael Dilks at 772-217-7825.