OAKLAND — A Fremont man has been arrested and charged with molesting a 12-year-old girl, giving her the hallucinogen LSD, possessing a video of their lewd encounter, and sending her “harmful material” online.
Christian Shepard, 25, pleaded not guilty to the charges at his court appearance Dec. 1, and is being held in Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $895,000 bail. His next court date has been set for January, court records show.
The charging documents allege that Shepard had two encounters with the girl, in which he molested her in myriad ways. He faces 13 felonies, including seven counts alleging he committed specific sex acts, as well as supplying a controlled substance to a minor, possessing child pornography, and arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes.
Police say the girl told authorities that for weeks, she operated a Twitter profile listing her real age in the profile, where she sold sexually explicit pictures and videos of herself to adults. That’s how police believe she met Shepard, who allegedly reached out to her last May and told her to download the chat application Telegram so they could talk further.
During the investigation, police say they uncovered hundreds of lewd pictures, videos, and text messages from conversations between the two, including messages where he refers to her as “kiddo” and says he “can’t wait” to meet in person. They arraigned to meet outside the San Leandro Public Library last July, according to authorities.
The alleged crimes surfaced after the victim’s mother went through her phone and discovered the photos and videos, police say. San Leandro police picked up the investigation because the meet-ups allegedly took place near the public library.
Shepard is alleged to have molested the girl on both meet-ups, and paid her in cash and LSD. Police say she sent Shepard a picture of herself ingesting the drug after their final meet up.
Authorities are still investigating the possibility that additional victims exist, and say Shepard used the screen name “Commander Shepard” online. Authorities are also investigating people who may have purchased photos or videos from the girl.
Shepard was arrested on Nov. 7 at his Fremont home, where he lives with his mother, court records show.
Anyone with information in this case can contact San Leandro police Detective Joanna Villa at 510-577-3274, or text TIP SLPOLICE followed by your message, to 888777
