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Vermont Pedophile Dubbed “Nightmare Nanny” Sentenced To 25 To Life

08/30/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Last year, police arrested Donald Shepherd on allegations that he sexually abused a boy who is now ten years old. He was taking care of the boy as the child’s nanny. Attorney Barbara Prine, the attorney for the family, read a note from the boy’s mother which stated “I do not believe Shepherd is at all sorry for what he did to my son. Only that he got caught.” Two months ago, Shepherd agreed to a plea deal which means that he will spend twenty-five years minimum in jail, and potentially could remain in jail for the rest of his life dependent upon his ability to be rehabilitated.

The family of his victim moved more than three hundred miles to try and rebuild their lives. Prine stated during the sentencing “Shepherd is a monster, and the only way anybody will be safe from him is to keep him locked up in prison for life.”

Shepherd’s crimes were premeditated. Initially, police believed Shepherd to be an habitual sex offender preyed on children in multiple states and using multiple aliases on the Internet. No evidence of that was found, but that may be because none of his other victims have come forward or know that he is the man who molested them. According to Judge Ben Johnson “I think the business of Mr. Shepherd, advertising himself as a nanny and going around the country working with children, at a time when he obviously knew he was a pedophile, indicates premeditation.”

Shepherd showed some regret in court, but it is unlikely that swayed many people. He stated “I am sorry for how its affected him and his family and several others in the community.” Judge Johnson, however, pointed out that the crime was calculated. He said in court “I think that the 25 to life is appropriate, because of the great harm that’s been caused. Because there was pre-meditation, because this was done in a very deliberate fashion.”

In twenty-five years, Shepherd will be reassessed to see if he is still a threat to society as a pedophile. If he is, then he will remain in jail until he is either considered to be rehabilitated or he dies.

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