Rio Dell man convicted of 2016 string of armed robberies, will serve 25 years

EUREKA – Rio Dell resident Christian James Shepard will spend 25 years in state prison after pleading guilty to eight armed robberies.
27-year-old Shepard committed the crimes in just 15 days in November of 2016. They spanned from McKinleyville to Garberville and the District Attorney’s Office described the robberies as a plague on the county.
Shepard was apprehended after fleeing a routine traffic stop a few days after the last incident.
Investigators linked his vehicle, clothing and firearms to the string of robberies.
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation.
A formal sentencing hearing is set for February 27.