Fort Wayne Man Faces Stalking, Intimidation, Arson Charges
Fort Wayne Man Faces Stalking, Intimidation, Arson Charges
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Amanda Bridgman-abridgman@timesuniononline.com
Fort Wayne Man Faces Stalking, Intimidation, Arson ChargesA Fort Wayne man was originally being held on $210,000 bail for allegedly stalking his ex-wife and her new boyfriend.
Rodney Logan Shepherd, 39, Fort Wayne, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday and faces two charges of stalking, Level 5 felonies; arson, a Level 6 felony; intimidation, a Level 6 felony; invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; and two Class B misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Dec. 31 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, on June 18, the man’s estranged wife called the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office to speak with an officer about Shepherd. The woman told police that at 4:30 a.m. that day, Shepherd was outside of her boyfriend’s house where she was staying, yelling and cussing. She also told police that deputies arrived and were unable to locate Shepherd, but at 6 a.m. she noticed the back window of her vehicle was broken out with a hammer laying beside the car. Court papers state the woman also said her gas cap had been tampered with.
On June 24, KCSO and the Pierceton Fire Department responded to the boyfriend’s residence and found a fully-engulfed vehicle fire. The vehicle belonged to the boyfriend and was completely burned in the driveway, the affidavit states.
The man told police that Shepherd has been sending him threatening messages that say, “your putting my wife in the crossfire of your s***,” “your time is up. Don’t sleep. Don’t blink,” “Show the police this b****,” and “Every limb and my body is going to be broke and your eyes poked out.”
The man told police he is afraid Shepherd will come to his home and burn his house down.
Police were given reports from the Pierceton Fire Department.
On June 13, according to the affidavit, Shepherd texted his ex-wife that he’s not sure what he’ll do, but he knows 100% he will kill another man. Shepherd allegedly sent degrading text messages to the woman June 14 and 15.
On June 17, according to the affidavit, Shepherd texted the woman and told her “Your time is limited here. The more you cause, the worse it will be for you. I have nothing to lose and you and your family f****** hurt me. No paper will scare me, yesterday my friends were right behind you. Cops come to my house, I’ll go to jail, then I’ll bond out or wait my time, then I’ll burn everything in your life down. Do not buy a house here, do not get a man. You get a house, I’m burning it. Then I’ll burn your life. Copes come here for me, it’s a shoot out. They will take me in a body bag. Go ahead and see him, that MF will die.”
The next day was when the woman’s vehicle window was broken out and when she called police. That day she also filed for a protective order against Shepherd, court papers state.
After Shepherd was served the protective order, court papers state he continued to demean and threaten the woman, and that he would write about suicide and self-pity. When the woman repeatedly requested Shepherd to leave her alone, he allegedly told her he will never do that and that she will never be with another man.
At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25, the woman told police she was at her boyfriend’s house and they heard a loud engine rev in front of the residence. A camera installed to video outside movement recorded what appeared to be Shepherd driving up and doing that, then driving away, the affidavit states. The woman told police after that happened, she immediately began receiving messages from Shepherd, including ones that said, “I know it. Lol. Tell him good bye, haha promise, lol tell him that his good friends are coming for a visit, I tired goodnight and tell him to sleep tight, you to, night.”
Later that night, the outdoor camera alerted the woman and man that activity was happening outside, according to the affidavit. The man went outside and saw someone in the area of the woman’s vehicle, yelled at the person, then the person threw something and broke out the front window of the woman’s vehicle, according to the court papers.
On June 2, Shepherd also allegedly told the woman that “he will kill anyone she is with and would not allow her to be with anyone else.” He then threatens that the woman will be fired from her job, then threatens to kill her and if she goes to the cops, he will kill everyone and “call the Mexicans.”
The boyfriend also was granted a protective order, court papers state.
Shepherd had five criminal cases in Whitley County where the woman is the victim, according to court records, for invasion of privacy, intimidation and criminal mischief.
Richard Thonert, Shepherd’s attorney, filed a notice Monday that his client has an alibi. Shepherd’s attorney also filed a motion to separate each charge and not have them be tried all together.
Shepherd appeared in front of Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton Wednesday and was granted a bail reduction to $2,000 surety, $500 cash.
Thonert said the reason the bond was reduced is because his client has good employment, is not a flight risk and that they anticipate many of the charges will be dismissed and the case will get resolved sometime this year.
Thonert also said Shepherd’s Whitley County cases have been resolved, including some being dismissed completely.
