A 22-year-old Maryland woman who allegedly assaulted a Tappahannock McDonald’s employee will remain jailed while her case moves through the Essex County legal system
Essex Circuit Court Judge John S. Martin denied bond for Kwaliea Kayla Vaughan, of Baltimore, after hearing arguments during an October 22 hearing.
Vaughan has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit assault related to the July 4 confrontation. A co-defendant, Jaquan Marques Pope, has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault and assault and battery.
Vaughan had originally been granted a $5,000 secured bond during an October 16 appearance in Essex General District Court, but the Commonwealth appealed that ruling resulting in last week’s proceeding.
Essex Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Heather Baber argued that Vaughan was a flight risk as she resides in Maryland.
“Her only ties to the community are the victim,” Baber told the court.
Baber said that on Independence Day Vaughan and Pope travelled from Maryland to Tappahannock. She said surveillance cameras showed Vaughan entering the eatery in workout clothing.
“This wasn’t a simple assault,” Baber told Martin. “She bit off (the victim’s left) ear lobe and took out a chunk of (the left side of) her face…. The defendant had ample opportunity to make different choices.”
According to Baber, Vaughan and the victim went to the ground with Vaughan “taking multiple bites out of (the victim’s) face.”
Baber said the victim dated Pope about three years ago.
Defense attorney William Viverette told the court that Vaughan has no prior criminal convictions and has stayed in contact with him since he was appointed to her case. He said Vaughan was arraigned on the matter in August.
Moreover, Viverette said Vaughan has been treated for mental health issues and was examined to determine if she was mentally capable of participating in their own defense. Viverette said she was deemed competent.
“I feel it’s a good situation for her to be in Maryland until the case is heard,” Viverette told Martin.
Baber, though, informed Martin that three years ago Vaughan “pulled out a knife on a victim in a different, separate event.”
“The Commonwealth feels there is nothing the court can do to protect the victim,” Baber argued.
“There is no way the victim can be protected unless (Vaughan) is held without bail,” Martin said while making his ruling.
Vaughan is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in Essex General District Court on December 18. Pope is also slated to be in court that day.
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