Lake City photographer claims husband forced her to molest 5-year-old girl

LAKE CITY, Fla. — A Lake City photographer is accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl.

Investigators said Heather Sheppard’s partner recorded the incident and threatened to share it with law enforcement.

Sheppard, 37, was arrested last month and posted her $50,000 bond.

According to the police report, Sheppard called police to her home and reported that her husband at the time was holding her against her will.

When investigators arrived, police said Sheppard revealed to them that she sexually abused a 5-year-old girl. She told police that her now-ex threatened to share her “secret” and video of the incident if she ever left him.

The report states Sheppard was “tired of [the man] saying that he would expose her so she called law enforcement and told them herself.”

Sheppard told police that her partner forced her to commit the lewd acts in order to profess her “undying love for him.”

The Florida Department of Children and Families was called in to investigate. A case worker spoke with the victim, who denied that anyone touched her inappropriately.

Sheppard’s children are now in the custody of their biological father.

A close friend told Action News Jax that Sheppard is looking to hire an attorney.

Cox Media Group