A 21-year-old Roxbury man was held on high bail at his district court arraignment on charges of assault and attempted rape of a college student in November, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.

VERNARD SHEPARD (D.O.B. 1/17/89) was arraigned today in Roxbury District Court and charged with assault with intent to rape, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery for his alleged role in the November 26 attack on a female student inside of a Huntington Avenue building on the Massachusetts College of Art campus. Assistant District Attorney SuLynn Walton requested that the defendant be held on $100,000 cash bail, that he stay away from both the victim from the location of the incident. Judge James W. Coffey imposed the recommended bail and conditions requested by the Commonwealth.

Walton told the court that at about 4 p.m. on the date of the incident, a student was in the computer lab of an on-campus building when a man – later identified as Shepard – knocked on the door to be let into the room.

Walton told the court that after entering the room, Shepard took a seat at the computer next to the victim. He then left the room and returned a short time later, knocking on the door again to be let in. After the victim opened the door and sat down, Walton told the court, Shepard allegedly approached the victim from behind and strangled her with a cloth, punched her and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim was able to break free after a struggle with the suspect, and he fled the area.

The victim notified college security officers and called 911. She and other witnesses were able to provide responding Boston Police officers with a physical description of the suspect, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Following an intensive investigation, Boston Police detectives filed a warrant for Shepard’s arrest. The victim and witnesses subsequently identified Shepard as the man who attacked the victim after viewing a photographic array.

Shepard is represented by attorney Rebecca Kratka. He is expected to return to court on Jan. 7, 2011.