RRU News: Steven Vaughn, To face trial on charges of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds and conflict of interest.

Trial ordered for ex-Riverside County employee accused of embezzlement

From The Press-Enterprise - Link

A former county employee was held to answer on embezzlement charges Friday and his bail was lowered.

Steven Vaughn, 63, has been at the Robert Presley Detention Center since January 2007, when he was arrested on $1.2 million bail.

On Friday evening, his family was working to post the new bail of $50,000, said Deputy Public Defender Addison Steele.

Steven Vaughn

After a preliminary hearing held over parts of two weeks, Judge J. Thompson Hanks declared the prosecution had enough evidence to proceed to trial on charges of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds and conflict of interest. Hanks also lowered the bail.

Steele argued the initial bail amount was excessive.

The prosecution alleges the theft occurred between 1999 and 2004 with losses estimated at $1.2 million. The criminal investigation also led to an audit of Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department that found inadequate financial oversight.

Co-defendant Michael Burton served as the Riverside County Fire Department communications and technology director at the time and was sentenced Dec. 12 to seven years and four months in prison.

Vaughn, a retired sheriff's lieutenant, was being paid by the Fire Department in a classification for volunteer firefighters. At the same time, he was working for his son's company, Aslyn Communications, according to testimony.

Vaughn requested county contracts for his son's company, totalling more than 400 invoices and $170,000.