False Rape Charge ‘Ruined His Life’ But No Repercussions for Her

10-20-2009 National:

Since Emily Bazelon claims to be concerned about false rape claims, I'd be interested in her take on this one (LoHud.com, 10/1/09). But it's more than just a false rape claim, it's a false DV claim and parental kidnapping all rolled into one. Into the bargain, the perpetrator got off scott free. So what say you Ms. Bazelon? Anything?

It all started when Stephen Vaughn had an argument with his wife. Vaughn is an injured war veteran with a prescription for Percocet to help him deal with the pain from his injuries. So when his wife kept pilfering his pain meds to feed her addiction, he got angry, confronted her, yelled and slammed his hand down onto the bed. He threatened to have her removed from the house if she didn't stop abusing drugs and alcohol.

That got him thrown out of his house and out of his autistic son's life via the usual expedient, a temporary restraining order. But his wife Rebecca didn't stop there. She gilded the lily by adding a rape charge, a kidnapping charge and numerous others.

So Vaughn was arrested and spent a year in jail. Although the article is not clear, it appears that the grand jury refused to indict Vaughn on the rape charge, but last month he was tried and acquitted of kidnapping and other unspecified charges. As things stand now, he's free (as in, "nothin' left to lose") and his attorney has written to the district attorney requesting that Rebecca Vaughn be charged with perjury. She's fled New York for the sunny climes of Florida, taking their son with her. Stephen hasn't seen the boy in over a year and doesn't expect to any time soon.

Incomprehensibly enough, the otherwise sympathetic article says that "the system actually worked in the end." Really? I wonder if Vaughn would agree. Let's see. He was falsely accused, spent who knows how much on legal fees, spent a year in jail, lost his house, his job and his son. His attorney says, "His life is ruined." And his wife has so far suffered no repercussions at all.

If that's the system "working," I'd hate to see what happens when it's broken. Perhaps Emily Bazelon can explain. ..Source.. by Robert Franklin, Esq.