A 41-year-old West Rome man is facing a charge after human waste was found across the front door, entrance threshold and sidewalk of North Rome Church of God. Jon Daniel Shepherd was booked into the Floyd County Jail on a warrant charging him with vandalism to a place of worship, following a police investigation.
The church door was reportedly covered in waste. Court warrant details published by WRGA News identify August 18 as the incident date and say Shepherd covered not just the door but also the entrance threshold and surrounding sidewalk in waste.
A Suspect Was Named
Shepherd was named as a suspect in connection with the alleged defacement.
The available reports provide no further explanation for the alleged defacement and do not establish Shepherd's mental state, any medical evaluation or any facility involved.
Vandalism to a Place of Worship Is a Felony Charge
The available reports do not provide details about any criminal charges pressed by church employees, a criminal trespass form or how Georgia's misdemeanor trespass statute applies in this case.
The warrant Floyd County Jail records show Shepherd was booked on charges him with vandalism to a place of worship. The supplied reports do not provide the statute's penalty or explain how it compares with other property-damage laws.
A Longtime Fixture in the North Rome Community
North Rome Church of God is identified in reports as being on North Broad Street in Rome. The supplied reports do not provide details about its operating history, denomination, pastor or building history.
Coosa Valley News did not provide a report in the supplied material about the arrest or investigation. The available reports do not address Shepherd's competency for trial or any future court proceedings.
