State Senator Derrick Shepherd was not denied bond following a ruling by a federal court judge, though conditions became stricter while he awaits trial on embezzlement charges.
Judge Louis Moore's ruling kept Shepherd out of jail, though the judge said he had violated the conditions of his release after an arrest Saturday on charges that he had assaulted his girlfriend, Thaise Ashford.
Shepherd appeared contrite, accepted fully responsibility and apologized to the judge.
The new conditions are supervised release, home detention and electronic monitoring.
While he can leave his home for work and church, he must stay away from Ashford's home in Gretna, nor can he contact her, and he will have to stay in a halfway house until he chooses which of his two homes will be his residence.
At a bond hearing for Shepherd, the woman who called police and claimed that Shepherd had allegedly attacked her Saturday night recanted her story on the witness stand.
Ashford said in court that the pair had an intimate relationship and she was expecting him to come over Friday night because she invited him over. And in fact, she allowed Shepherd in the house.
Contrasting Ashford's testimony was a 911 call played before her statements. Jefferson Parish detectives played the call for the courtroom.
During the call Ashford is heard saying that somebody knocked her down her door and that his name was Derrick Shepherd. She added that she had scars down her arm.
Ashford said that she has an ongoing relationship with Shepherd and that she was mad that he came to her home several hours late.
She said she called police because she was angry with him. She testified that Shepherd never hit, nor did he knock down the door, or steal anything from her.
Shepherd, who is facing federal charges, was arrested by Jefferson Parish police Saturday for allegedly assaulting Ashford. He was booked on state charges of unauthorized entry of a dwelling, simple battery and theft. Police said Shepherd broke into his girlfriend's home, punched her in the stomach and took her cell phone and $100.
The hearing was held to revoke the state Senator's bond in his federal case, where he accused on embezzling money. Federal prosecutors contend state Sen. Derrick Shepherd's arrest Saturday violated his $5,000 federal bond. U.S. Magistrate Louis Moore Jr. ordered Shepherd to a halfway house and scheduled the hearing Tuesday.
Shepherd appeared in federal court with his defense attorney, Clarence Roby.
