A Florida man already on felony probation has been arrested on multiple charges after authorities discovered he was carrying a "jerry-rigged Whizzinator" in an attempt to cheat a court-ordered drug test. The incident unfolded on July 14 when James Shepard, 52, was pulled over by a deputy for driving with a suspended license as he arrived to submit his urine sample.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Shepard's decision to drive was his first mistake, violating the terms of his felony probation for multiple burglaries and thefts. His second mistake, the sheriff's office stated, was the device strapped to his groin.
The "Whizzinator" was reportedly constructed with a fake bladder filled with fake urine, a heating pad, and a fake penis. Video footage from inside the patrol car captured Shepard removing and discarding the device onto the floor of the vehicle. When questioned by the deputy, Shepard initially denied the device was his, but the video evidence appeared to contradict his statement.
Shepard now faces charges including driving without a valid license, violating probation, defrauding a drug test, and tampering with evidence. Sheriff Rick Staly criticized Shepard's actions, stating he had been given a "deal of a lifetime" by being on community control instead of serving a prison sentence for his past crimes. "Now he has a stream of new charges after flushing away a second chance to turn his life around. Instead, he tried to trick the system. Now he needs to go to prison!" Staly said.
Shepard is being held without bond. The sheriff's office noted that the outcome might have differed if Shepard had arranged for someone else to transport him and the device to the drug test appointment.