Sex offender faces felony for failing to report address

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man admitted to a felony offense of violating the sex offender registration act and was subsequently scheduled for sentencing during a Feb. 4, 2013, Red Willow County District Court hearing. The charge against the offender, 33-year-old Zachary P. Shepherd of 1302 W. Third Street, stems from his failure to meet reporting requirements pertaining to his residence.

According to court documents, Shepherd registered as a sex offender in Kansas in August 2012 and reported his residence as 216 Buffalo in Oberlin, Kansas. Shepherd allegedly failed to report the move to the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department within three days, who had been informed last in May 2012 that he was living at 912 East G Street in McCook.

Court documents pertaining to the case listed Shepherd's address as 1302 W. Third Street, however, the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry website lists his address as "Absconded, McCook NE," as of Wednesday. Shepherd is a lifetime member of the sex offender registry stemming from a 2007 conviction for attempted first degree sexual assault of a minor.

During a February 2011 sentencing hearing in Red Willow County Court Shepherd's residence was listed as 1004 E. Third Street. He was convicted of theft by unlawful taking less than $500 in that case and sentenced to 90 days in jail.

The theft charge stemmed from more than $1,500 in items he stole from vehicles parked at Walmart.

Shepherd's sentencing on the Class IV felony sex offender registration violation is scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 1, 2013, in Red Willow County District Court.

In Nebraska Class IV felonies carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, with no minimum sentence.