Local News

PHOTOGRAPHER ADMITS TO ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING CHILDREN

(Connersville, IN)--Court documents obtained Monday afternoon reveal the level of alleged depravity of the Connersville photographer that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News first reported Monday morning.  Mikell Shepard has been charged with multiple counts involving child molestation and child pornography.  Shepard admitted not only to taking nude photos of at least eight children between the ages of five and nine, but also photographing himself inappropriately touching some of those children.  The investigation began last week based on cyber tips.  Those tips included over 1750 images and videos.  Investigators then matched Shepard’s tattoos to those that appeared in photos with children.  It was also clear that the photos were taken in Shepard’s house as part of his Connersville photography business.  More charges could be added.  What is not included in court documents that outline alleged crimes against  Shepard is how he was able to get young children out of their parents’ presence to take nude and inappropriate photos of them.  It’s now been four days since Connersville police said that they would have a press release which would give instructions to parents of potential victims of Shepard.  The department has said that it is working on a reporting system.