Abusive Ex-Prosecutor Gets Slammed in Bar Complaint

By Edward Snook
Investigative Journalist

Jody Vaughan

Oregon – On March 22, 2011 Oregon resident Kevin Driscoll filed an Oregon State Bar complaint against former Deschutes County, Oregon prosecutor Jody Stutsman Vaughan.
Vaughan relentlessly pursued Driscoll from January 23, 2009, when false rape charges were filed against him, until October 6, 2010, when a Deschutes County Jury acquitted him. Vaughan’s actions during her attempted false prosecution were not mere “Ethics Violations,” they were flat-out evil attacks on this innocent young man.
The efforts of the US~Observer totally defeated Vaughan’s attempts to ruin Kevin Driscoll’s life and he was spared many years in prison. Vaughan and her boss, Deschutes County District Attorney Michael Dugan, both lost their jobs over this case – Dugan was voted out of office after the US~Observer newspapers flooded Deschutes County and Vaughan was fired when Patrick Flaherty was sworn in as the new Deschutes County District Attorney.
The US~Observer was successful in taking the Driscoll case into the “Court of Public Opinion” and winning and now that Driscoll has filed his valid bar complaint against the prosecutor who falsely and unethically attempted to prosecute him, the US~Observer will take the Oregon State Bar into that same “Court of Public Opinion.”
The Oregon State Bar is factually a brotherhood organization that supposedly controls attorneys in the State of Oregon, while they pretend to discipline Oregon attorneys for their unethical conduct. The truth of the matter is, the Bar is an organization that only disciplines an attorney when their conduct becomes so egregious that it can’t be swept under the carpet or when they decide an attorney is threatening their monopoly – a monopoly that attorneys have perfected to allow them to completely fleece their clients. There are rare exceptions, but they are rare indeed.
Driscoll’s Oregon State Bar Complaint – Verbatim:
COMPLAINT REGARDING ATTORNEY:
Jody Stutsman Vaughan
March 22, 2011
TO: Oregon State Bar
Client Assistance Office
PO Box 231935
Tigard, OR 97281-1935
Ethics Violations By: Jody Stutsman Vaughan
I hereby lodge an official complaint against Jody Stutsman Vaughan who is licensed in the State of Oregon, and is therefore subject to the Oregon Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Nature of the complaint:
Mrs. Vaughan engaged in several acts of unethical behavior, while assigned to case 09FE0114ST as the Deputy District Attorney in Deschutes County as detailed below:
1. Mrs. Vaughan engaged in undignified behavior by forwarded copies of police reports, witness statements and arrest orders to my employer. I feel Mrs. Vaughan engaged in the behavior to cause a loss of job and to restrict me financially so it would be difficult to have a proper defense.
2. On December, 25 2009 Mrs. Vaughan engaged in releasing a false statement by means of public communication through The Bend Bulletin. Mrs. Vaughan stated publicly that I was engaged with two other women in “extremely rough”, “very painful” and “forceful” sex. Mrs. Vaughan knowingly released this false statement to the public to sway the jury pool in her favor.
3. Mrs. Vaughan participated in the creation of false evidence by submitting pictures that clearly altered the actual characteristic and color of forensic photographs.
4. Mrs. Vaughan knowingly used perjured testimony of witness Kathy Wade, Melissa Leahy and Patrick Murphy.
5. On October, 5 2010 Mrs. Vaughan knowingly made a false statement by presented evidence to the court by stating “the bruises, nobody saw them in the hot tub.” When it was clearly stated on the record, by two separate individual witnesses that bruises were seen and reported. Mrs. Vaughan knowingly made this false statement to direct the jury from the truth.
6. On October, 5 2010 Mrs. Vaughan knowingly made a false statement of the evidence to the court by saying “Pictures of the bruises were taken four days later.” This was a false statement because the bruises were actually taken the same day. Mrs. Vaughan knowingly attempted to conceal and disclose evidence to convince the jury of her false statement.
7. On October, 5 2010 Mrs. Vaughan knowingly made a false statement to the court by stating “when Ms. Leahy was asked if he put his mouth on your vagina she answered, maybe or not.” This question was asked directly to Ms. Leahy and the answer was “Yes.” Mrs. Vaughan clearly misrepresented this testimony to convince the jury of her false statement.
8. On October, 5 2010 Mrs. Vaughan knowingly made a false statement of the evidence to the court by stating” Look at the video, it will show Pete coming out the open garage.” This video clearly showed Pete Rusjker exiting out the side gate, not the garage as Mrs. Vaughan stated. Mrs. Vaughan made this statement to the jury knowing the jury had not viewed the video at this time. This is a false statement or Mrs. Vaughan failed her duties as an Attorney to review all evidence in question before prosecuting a case.
9. On October, 20 2010 Mrs. Vaughan attempted to refuse to release my personal belongings that were ordered by the court to be returned. Once Mrs. Vaughan found out the local police returned the belongings at the courts request; she became angry and contacted my stepfather. Mrs. Vaughan threatened legal action unless she receives pictures that my Defense Attorney had. This was clearly not the professionalism or conduct the officers of our courts should uphold.
Dates of Violation: January, 23 2009 to October, 20 2010
Other Relevant Information:
I feel the conduct Mrs. Vaughan demonstrates is in direct violation of DR 7-102(A)(3), 7-102(A)(4), 7-102(A)(5), 7-102(A)(6), 7-106(C)(6), 7-107(A), 7-107(B). There are also several other violations from Oregon Code of Professional Conduct and Oregon Code of professional responsibilities.
If needed I can provide you with all the witness information, court audio transcripts, altered picture, articles from The Bend Bulletin, and recorded phone call between my stepfather and Mrs. Vaughan.
I am fully aware of the high standards The Oregon State Bar requires of its officers. I believe Oregon State Bar will find these matters worthy of investigation, and I look forward to hearing from you as to the disposition of this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information or have any questions.
Sincerely,
Kevin Driscoll
Editor’s Note: Don’t miss our upcoming article on the results Kevin Driscoll’s Oregon State Bar Complaint.