Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Copyright: 2004 The Commercial Appeal Contact: http://www.commercialappeal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95 Author: Sherri Drake THIRD OFFICER PLEADS NOT GUILTY Vaughan Facing Drug Charges, Out On Bond A Memphis cop, charged with having drugs to sell, was silent in court Wednesday as his attorney told a judge he wasn't guilty. John D. Vaughan, with fellow officers David Tate and Billy Scott, is charged with having 150 tablets of Ecstasy and 10 kilograms of a substance containing methamphetamine. Vaughan, 28, who's out on bond, pleaded not guilty Wednesday, a day after Scott, also 28, was released from jail after admitting guilt. In the same indictment, Scott, Tate and 21-year-old accomplice April Veach are charged with planning to break into Jerry Lawler's home. They were arrested before they could snatch $200,000 they thought was stashed in the professional wrestler's jukebox. Scott and Tate also are charged with other drug violations and with driving FBI agents posing as prostitutes to Tunica to sell sex to big spenders. Tuesday, a prosecutor told U.S. Dist. Judge Bernice Donald he agreed to release Scott, who pleaded not guilty, on $20,000 bond because he'd made a confession. He didn't say what Scott admitted. Vaughan is the last of the four charged in the indictment to plead not guilty. He was released on $10,000 bond last week. Veach was released on $5,000 bond and Tate, who didn't ask for bond, is still detained. Vaughan, who arrived and left the courtroom with his fiancee, also asked to break one condition of his release. A judge OK'd his request to travel outside of West Tennessee to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with his fiancee's mother. After the hearing, Vaughan wouldn't comment about his charges or Scott's admission of guilt. "You'll have to talk to my attorney," he told reporters. His attorney, Randy Alden, did not return calls Wednesday. Tate, 37, resigned Nov. 22 after 18 years with the department. Scott, a six-year officer assigned to the Central Precinct, and Vaughan, a five-year officer assigned to the Special Traffic Enforcement Unit, were suspended with pay during the investigation. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek