Pubdate: Tue, 20 Sep 2005
Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Florida Times-Union
Contact: http://www.jacksonville.com/aboutus/letters_to_editor.shtml
Website: http://www.times-union.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/155
Author: Jim Schoettler, The Times-Union

2 CLAY OFFICERS FACE SCRUTINY IN 1.7 STING

Talk With Prostitute Part Of Job, They Say

Two Clay County narcotics detectives caught in a Jacksonville prostitution 
sting Friday were released after saying they were working undercover. But 
their troubles could be far from over.

Sgt. Daniel Mahla and David Vaughan Jr. were put on paid administrative 
leave while the State Attorney's Office investigates whether their actions 
involved criminal intent or was the work of two overzealous cops.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said an internal investigation will be 
conducted by his office after the criminal case is resolved, including into 
why they crossed into Duval County while on duty.

Clay and Jacksonville vice detectives have recently discussed fighting 
prostitution, drugs and other crimes in motels along a strip of Blanding 
Boulevard south of Interstate 295, but they weren't working together 
Friday, Beseler said.

"The matter was subject to interpretation about the officers' actions," he 
said.

A Jacksonville police report gives these details:

Jacksonville police were working the undercover sting at the Red Roof Inn 
on Youngerman Circle about 3 p.m. when Mahla and Vaughan approached the 
female decoy, who is also a detective. The decoy gave the men prices for 
sex acts. Mahla said he wanted oral sex and Vaughan agreed verbally and by 
nodding his head.

Mahla said they would meet her in her motel room. Jacksonville police then 
detained the two men. As more information came out, supervisors from the 
Clay Sheriff's Office arrived. Jacksonville police called prosecutors, who 
approved the officers' release pending further investigation.

"If there was sufficient evidence [of criminal intent] they will be 
prosecuted. If there was not, they won't be," Assistant State Attorney Jay 
Taylor said.

Sheriff John Rutherford said he supported releasing the Clay deputies until 
the investigation is completed.

"If there's a question of criminal intent, then obviously we need to 
investigate before we put someone in jail," Rutherford said. "It wouldn't 
matter if it was a police officer or anybody else."

Beseler declined to discuss further details of the case but stressed the 
deputies will not be shown favoritism.

"We want to make sure they're treated fairly and the same as if they were 
anybody else," Beseler said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman