Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The defendant refuted testimony that he had confessed having sex with the woman.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Damon Vaughn of Warren took the stand in his sexual battery trial to deny having sex with a female resident at Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program, which is a community-based corrections facility, while he was a residential supervisor there.
Although a Willoughby woman said she and Vaughn, 36, of Warren, had sexual intercourse on two occasions in a staff restroom in April or May of 2004, Vaughn said that they did not and that he had not interacted with the woman in anything other than ordinary ways.
Vaughn said that it would be "impossible" for him to have sex with a resident in the facility and that he would never do such a thing because of the damage it could do to his family. If convicted, Vaughn faces from one to five years in prison on each of four counts of sexual battery. Vaughn was eventually fired from the job he held for about two years.
Person of authority
According to state law, a person in authority, such as a jail guard or teacher, is prohibited from having sexual relations with a person he or she is supervising, said Chuck Morrow, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor on the case.
Vaughn's testimony centered on testimony given by the woman Monday about whether the bathroom door locked from the outside. The woman testified the door required a key to unlock. Vaughn testified it locked only from the inside.
Judge John Stuard, who is hearing the case without a jury; Vaughn's attorney, Thomas E. Zena of Boardman; Vaughn; and Morrow all visited the facility Monday to see locations that would be discussed in the trial.
Signed confession
Vaughn also testified that he had never seen papers presented as evidence by private polygrapher Bill Evans showing signed confessions by Vaughn that he had sex with the woman.
Evans testified earlier in the day that Vaughn admitted the acts and signed written statements to that effect.
Testimony is expected to continue today.