Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys Blog
In Saline County, AR, the small community of Haskell is divided in their reactions to the arrest of 32-year-old Kyle Vaughan, who was arrested recently and fired from his job as a Haskell police officer, charged with sexual assault involving a juvenile, and child pornography.
According to news reports, the Haskell Police Dept. is located directly across the street from the school, and officers direct school traffic. Some parents and grandparents are shocked at the fact that a potential child predator could have been watching over their children, while those who know Vaughn have a difficult time believing the accusations are true, calling him “a family man, not a pedophile.”
Arkansas State Police took Vaughn into custody on the afternoon of Monday, August 17. At the time of news reports, he was being held in the Saline County Jail on charges of computer child pornography, failure to report, distribution or possession of material depicting explicit images, and second-degree sexual assault on a juvenile. Authorities began investigating Vaughn in May of this year. He has been terminated from the Haskell Police Dept.
News reports indicate Vaughn’s next court date is set for September 15, and that it was ordered by a Benton judge that he be held in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Sexual crimes are extremely serious, particularly when they involve juveniles. While every state in the U.S. punishes sex offenders harshly, Michigan’s criminal penalties for those convicted are particularly severe. For example, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the most serious charge of all, may result in a life prison term depending on the circumstances. In every case, factors including the defendant’s criminal history, age of the victim, and other issues may impact the sentence given to an individual found guilty by the court.
Unfortunately, it is easy for an innocent person to be accused of a sex-related offense. In defending these types of charges, it is critical to choose a Michigan sex crimes attorney who is highly experienced and skilled in these types of cases as your freedom, career, reputation, and much more is at risk. Ultimately, a conviction for sexually assaulting a child or any other serious offense could ruin your life.