Accused Of Child Molestation, Kidnapping, RivCo Man Pleads Not Guilty

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A Jurupa Valley man charged with crimes involving underage girls remained held Monday on $1 million bail, and investigators believe there may be more victims.

Brian Julius Vaughn, 36, was behind bars at Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility after pleading not guilty Friday to two counts of attempted kidnapping/robbery/rape, and one count of oral copulation with a child under 14 years old — all felonies. He also pleaded not guilty to one count each of indecent exposure and annoying/molesting a child under 18 years old — both misdemeanors, court records show.

Judge Jennifer Gerard signed off on a declaration in support of increasing Vaughn's bail to $1 million. A criminal protective order was also filed to shield victims/witnesses, according to court records.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said the recent case against Vaughn began shortly before 5 p.m. on Halloween when a report came in about a man following a 17-year-old girl as she walked home from a Moreno Valley high school.

The suspect allegedly photographed the student and offered her a ride as he followed her in his vehicle.

Then, the following day, another disturbing report was filed with the sheriff's department: A man allegedly solicited a lewd act from a 12-year-old girl in Moreno Valley. According to the law enforcement agency, the man knew the child, though authorities did not announce the nature of the relationship between the two.

During the investigation into the alleged lewd act, deputies determined the man suspected in the incident— Vaughn — was the same person who allegedly harassed the high school girl on Oct. 31.

More evidence mounted against Vaughn after investigators spoke to a woman who allegedly escaped a Nov. 1 kidnapping attempt in Jurupa Valley. In that incident, the victim was riding her scooter when a man offered to give her a ride in his vehicle. When she declined, the driver — later identified as Vaughn — grabbed her arm and pulled her toward his vehicle though she was able to escape, according to the sheriff's department.

On Nov. 6, Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station investigators served a search warrant at Vaughn’s home in the 3900 block of Hawk Drive where he was taken into custody without incident.

Though Vaughn was charged, an investigation into his alleged crimes is continuing, according to the sheriff's department.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department "believes there may be additional victims, and they encourage anyone with additional information on this investigation or other similar incidents to call Investigator Castellanos at 951-486-6793."

Vaughn's next court date is Nov. 20, when he is scheduled to appear for a felony settlement conference in the case.