SALINE CO.— A Ridgway convicted felon is facing weapons charges after police found him passed out with a loaded gun.
According to formal charges, on May 30 at 11:51 a.m. Eldorado Chief of Police Shannon Deuel received a message from Tim Vaughn stating that his son, Richard Joseph Vaughn, 25, of 403 East Edwards St., Ridgway, was passed out on his porch, located at 821 Elder St., Eldorado, and that there was a pistol laying beside him.
Chief Deuel advised the father that he would be right there and to take possession of the pistol.
Upon arrival the father handed Deuel a .22 caliber Ruger-style six pistol that was loaded with six .22 caliber rounds.
The chief secured the weapon in his cruiser and with the assistance of officer James Williams, handcuffed Richard Vaughn and searched him for any more weapons.
That search of his person turned up 24 additional .22 caliber rounds in Vaughn’s left pants pocket.
Chief Deuel took possession of the ammunition and officer Williams transported Vaughn to the county detention center in Harrisburg where he was booked on two felony charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Vaughn’s criminal history includes a March 13, 2012 conviction on two counts of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, which earned him a sentence of probation for 48 months.
When he screwed up the terms of his probation he was resentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections for five years and ordered to pay $9,379 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $8,229.
Cash bond in the case was set at $1,500.