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.