Prosecutors have recommended a six-year prison sentence for a Corbin man accused of possessing a stolen tow truck and leading police on a vehicle pursuit, before he and his passenger had to be rescued by first responders after falling down a cliff. Prosecutors recommended a pre-trial diversion for his passenger.
Rex Vaughn, 55, of Corbin, was indicted by information on charges of receiving stolen property of the value of $10,000 or more, first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer), first-degree criminal mischief, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a six-year prison sentence.
His passenger, Thelma Travillian, 41, of Rockholds, was indicted by information on a charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a three-year pre-trial diversion.
The case started out with a stolen wrecker-tow truck out of southern Laurel County, which was reported stolen on June 6.
About 9:30 p.m. on June 6, Kentucky State Police (KSP) received information that the stolen wrecker was located parked near Cumberland Falls. Park Ranger Jones located the wrecker backed into a parking space and approached the vehicle and saw a male driver and female passenger inside, the KSP release stated.
“While attempting to identify the individuals, the male operator fled the scene in the vehicle, ramming and causing significant damage to Park Ranger Jones’s emergency vehicle,” the release stated.
McCreary County Sheriff’s Deputy Ridner initiated a vehicle pursuit.
“During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to strike Deputy Ridner’s cruiser by putting the wrecker in reverse and accelerating aggressively. The suspect ultimately eluded law enforcement. The abandoned wrecker was later located in a wooded area,” according to the release.
Williamsburg Police Department Assistant Chief Brandon White responded with a thermal imaging drone after troopers determined that both the driver and passenger had fled on foot.
Police determined that the two suspects had fallen from a high cliff.
White located the two suspects with the thermal imaging drone and guided troopers to the suspects’ location, which was at the base of a cliff. They suffered serious injuries, the release stated.
Woodbine Fire and Rescue and the Corbin Fire Department conducted a high-angle recovery to safely extract the individuals.
Felony cases get to circuit court in one of two ways. The most common way is that evidence is presented to a grand jury, which issues an indictment against an individual.
The second way is indictment by information. An indictment by information is an expedited way to resolve criminal cases more quickly and it involves the defendant and the prosecutor reaching an agreement on the criminal charge(s) against a defendant. It also usually, but not always, involves a plea agreement with prosecutors regarding the charges and a recommended sentence in the case.
Pretrial diversions often, but not always, allow for charges to be wiped from a defendant’s record at the conclusion of their diversion period.
