Museum director accused of trying to steal paintings

April 18, 2007, 4:49PM

AUSTIN — The finance and operations director of the Austin Museum of Art has been charged with trying to steal paintings from a downtown art festival.

Nathan Sheppard, 37, was arrested early Sunday and has been charged with burglary of a building and evading arrest. His wife, Alexandra Sheppard, 33, was charged with burglary of a building.

An arrest affidavit said police noticed Alexandra Sheppard walking around tents that housed artists' works for the two-day Austin Fine Arts Festival in a downtown park.

She told police she was looking for her car, but an officer noticed that a zipper to a nearby tent was open and saw Nathan Sheppard standing inside holding two paintings. He dropped them and ran and was later arrested, according to police.

Nathan Sheppard has been placed on leave from his job at the museum.

Information from the Austin American-Statesman: http://www.statesman.com

Source : http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4727802.html