Tahlequah Daily Press

Local News

March 21, 2007

Churchgoers chase down flasher

TAHLEQUAH — Tahlequah police jailed a man Monday after he allegedly exposed himself to people leaving a local church.

Wesley Dale Vaughan, 47, was booked for indecent exposure. Vaughn, who has previous convictions for indecent exposure and feloniously pointing a firearm, will be formally charged in district court with the new offense.

Reports state Vaughan was near Abundant Life Fellowship Church when the incident occurred.

Witnesses chased Vaughan to the area of Fourth and Basin, where he was tackled by one of the witnesses. Officers arrived to find Vaughan on the ground with people standing over him.

One of Vaughan’s alleged victims was an 8-year-old boy whose mother asked Vaughan what he was doing. Vaughan replied, “just hanging out.”

Cherokee County court records show Vaughan was charged twice with indecent exposure in 2002. He was charged with two counts of exposure in March 2002 and a third count in July 2002. One of the March counts was dismissed as part of a plea agreement he had with prosecutors.

He was initially placed on probation but was later sent to prison for violating his probation. He was discharged in 2005. While in the Department of Corrections, he was supposed to complete a sex offender program.

Assistant District Attorney David Pierce is reviewing the report to determine formal charges to file against Vaughan.

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