Boy to be prosecuted in gun case

Authorities have initiated formal court proceedings against a 14-year-old Kalispell boy investigators say brought a handgun to school.

Prosecutors allege that Roger Lewis Vaughn took a 9 mm pistol from his grandfather's house and brought the loaded weapon to Smith Valley School the morning of Feb. 4.

Vaughn, who has been charged in Flathead County Youth Court with misdemeanor possession of a weapon in school, is scheduled to appear Feb. 27 in District Court to answer the allegations.

Prosecutors and Youth Court officials decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not to involve youths in formal court proceedings, but cases of consequence seldom are handled informally, Deputy Flathead County Attorney Caleb Simpson said.

"I don't think bringing a gun to school should be taken lightly," Simpson said.

According to court documents, a sixth-grade boy told school officials that Vaughn took him into the boy's restroom and showed him the pistol.

Vaughn allegedly removed the magazine - which the other student said contained five or six rounds - before returning the magazine to the gun, racking the slide, and then putting the weapon in his waistband.

A second student told investigators he had seen Vaughn earlier in the school day and Vaughn told him he had a gun.

Vaughn, however, told investigators the gun was in the outside compartment of his backpack and the magazine was out of the weapon.

"Our facts don't indicate that he had the intent to hurt anybody on that day," Simpson said.

After learning Vaughn may have the gun at school, school officials involved the Sheriff's Office and on Feb. 5 investigators searched Vaughn's home and his grandfather's home - recovering the pistol from the second residence.

Vaughn was not in school that day.

Calls made to the public defender assigned to Vaughn's case were not returned Friday. Vaughn's family could not be reached for comment.

The Smith Valley school board decided Tuesday night to expel Vaughn for two years.

Vaughn, who is being held in the Flathead County Juvenile Detention Center, is not being prosecuted as an adult. If convicted, possible penalties could include probation or incarceration.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com