Eric Sheppard

VALDOSTA, Ga. — A former Valdosta State University student who received national attention for walking on the American flag was sentenced to three years probation this week on an unrelated firearm plea, according to a district attorney in Georgia.

Southern Circuit Judge Harry J. Altman sentenced Eric Sheppard, 23, to three years probation; a $32 per month supervision fee; a $50 crime lab fee; a $2,000 fine; and reimbursement of $1,036 to Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office for expenses in bringing him back from Tampa, Florida, following his arrest there, Assistant Southern District Attorney Brad Shealy said Tuesday.

Conditions of Sheppard’s probation include a search clause, 120 hours of community service work, and no contact with VSU, Shealy said.

Sheppard pleaded guilty May 31 to one count of carrying a weapon in a school safety zone.

The case stems from an incident where a gun — a loaded, .45-caliber Springfield XD — was found in a book bag on the VSU campus on April 21, 2015.

Campus police and the Valdosta, Georgia Police Department connected the weapon to Sheppard in the days after he had walked across an American flag on campus in earlier that month.

Sheppard’s protest received national attention when former Air Force trainer and Playboy model Michelle Manhart attempted to stop further protests by taking the flag. Campus police detained but did not arrest Manhart. Police returned the flag to the protesters.

A few days later, authorities discovered the gun on campus. VSU police investigators connected the gun to Sheppard through pawn shop receipts.

A warrant was issued for Sheppard’s arrest, and authorities spent several weeks looking for him. While avoiding custody, Sheppard shared a manifesto with The Valdosta, Georgia Daily Times claiming he would “annihilate” anyone who tried to take him into custody. The manifesto also condemned all white people and police.

Sheppard was arrested in Tampa, Florida before he was extradited to Lowndes County, Georgia.

He was granted bond at $25,000, on several conditions, such as being banned from the VSU campus and from social media; confinement to his mother’s Cobb County residence from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.; being restricted to staying in Cobb County, Georgia; and wearing an ankle monitor and being monitored daily by the Southern District Attorney’s office.

Poling writes for the Valdosta, Georgia Daily Times.