Judge grants bond to Brevard principal charged with child porn

Ricky Sheppard, 59

Despite admitting reservations concerning the safety of the community, US magistrate judge Gregory J. Kelly granted bond to a Brevard County elementary school principal facing child pornography charges, News 6 partner Florida Today reports.

The 90 minute hearing, held in federal court in Orlando this morning, resulted in 59-year-old Ricky Sheppard being released into the custody of his sister. Other conditions of his bond include no internet, no computers and no contact with children without a responsible adult present. He will also be forced to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.

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A bond amount was not released.

A digital forensic specialist with the Brevard County sheriffs office testified that he has discovered hundreds of images of child pornography as well as thousands of videos depicting child pornography on Sheppard's two desktop computers.

According to task force agent Michael Mazzone, the digital forensic expert, some of the videos he discovered involved children as young as four years old and at least one contained bestiality.

"The forensic investigation is going to be ongoing for quite a while," Mazzone said.

Sheppard's sister, Tammy Calhoun Kelly, testified that she was absolutely shocked at the allegations.


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