A former magistrate judge in Lumpkin County was arrested Friday on theft charges less than three months after his wife was also arrested on a similar count.
The GBI confirmed Friday evening that James Sheppard, 55 of Dahlonega, was arrested and faces one count of Theft by Taking and one county of Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Taking. He was booked into the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
In December, his wife, Rhonda Sheppard, was arrested and charged with one count of Theft by Taking amid an investigation by the GBI and the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office into concerns from a resident that the terms of another resident's will were not being carried out by Rhonda Sheppard, who was the executrix.
The investigation revealed that Rhonda Sheppard had taken over $400,000 for personal use. One term of the will involved a donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
The investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution when completed.
James Sheppard served on the magistrate court in 2021 and prior to that was the coroner for Lumpkin County. Rhonda Sheppard was the county's elections manager and administrative assistant to the sheriff prior to her arrest.
