Palm Coast Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Probation Violation

WEST FLAGLER — A Palm Coast man received an eight-year state prison sentence Monday for violating probation, including possessing a device intended to falsify a drug test.

James Shepard, 52, pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his community control. The violation occurred as he was driving without a valid license. This led to the revocation of his community control related to previous burglary and grand theft cases.

Shepard was sentenced to eight years in state prison, with credit for 114 days served. The original charges stemmed from a 2025 investigation by the Flagler and St. Johns County Sheriff's Offices. Detectives discovered 22 stolen home appliances in a Palm Coast storage unit rented by Shepard. He pleaded no contest to two counts of burglary and two counts of grand theft on January 6, 2026.

His sentencing indicated a minimum of over four years in prison. Under a plea agreement, he received two years of community control followed by three years of drug offender probation.

On July 14, deputies observed Shepard driving without a license as he left a probation appointment. He was stopped as he arrived at his drug treatment class, where he was scheduled to submit a urine sample.

During his arrest for driving without a license and felony probation violation, deputies found a bag containing yellow liquid, a heating pad and a fake male genitalia device on the floorboard of the patrol car. In-car video showed Shepard removing the items from his groin area and discarding them. He initially denied ownership.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated Shepard received a "gift of community control" and "flushed it down the drain" by violating terms within months. "Barely six months later he was driving without a license to his drug class with a fake urine contraption stuffed down his pants. I thank the judge for holding him accountable. Now he can think it over for the next eight years in state prison," Staly said.

The State Attorney's Office dropped the charge of attempting to defraud a urine drug test and declined to file tampering with evidence charges. Shepard faces pending probation violation charges in St. Johns County. He is held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility awaiting transfer to state Department of Corrections custody.