A former Minnesota dentist who fled to Italy 32 years ago after being charged with trying to burn his own dental office wants to return to the U.S. and run for Congress.
Jack Shepard of St. Paul wants to come home and run against U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) as an Independence Party candidate, according to a twincities.com story.
Shepard, now in his late 60s, claims that he was dehydrated from heavy exercise while he was taking lithium, as ordered by a court. The lithium may have contributed to some mood swings and manic periods, though he's not confirming or denying he committed the arson he's accused of.
Shepard, a convicted felon, has previous convictions for sexual misconduct and possession of prescription pain pills he did not have a prescription for (he maintains he was licensed to have the pills), and he has not finished serving probation. The story notes that the Independence Party does not plan on nominating Shepard.
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