James Russell Shephard II has been sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Possession of a Controlled Substance following his conviction in the 392nd District Court. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Daniel Cox and Assistant District Attorney Katy Colts.
The investigation began on April 25, 2023, when Henderson County Sheriff's Office Investigator Kenneth Slaton received a tip from a concerned citizen that Shephard was high on fentanyl, making threats, and behaving dangerously inside a vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted soon after.
During the stop, authorities found digital scales, syringes, a backpack containing narcotics, and three pistols in Shephard’s possession. Substances discovered were later tested and confirmed by the DPS lab to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and phenazepam.
Court records show that Shephard has a prior federal conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine out of the U.S. District Court in Vermont and a separate conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance in Kaufman County, Texas.
Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer stated, “Fentanyl is not only incredibly dangerous to those who use it, but also to everyone around them. We’ve seen how quickly it can turn a situation violent or deadly. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who traffic in these poisons and endanger our community.”
