Band Director Dressed as Santa Claus Allegedly Threatens School Superintendent

JONESBORO, Ark. – A school band director was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation after his arrest for allegedly arriving armed with a gun and dressed as Santa Claus at a school superintendent's home.

Steven Vaughn, 33, was ordered held without bond in the Craighead County Detention Center after a judge found probable cause for his arrest on charges of criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, residential burglary and two counts of kidnapping.

Vaughn's lawyer told District Court Judge Keith Blackman that Vaughn was suicidal, and the judge ordered the Brookland School District band director to undergo a mental evaluation.

Vaughn also is to appear in court for a bond hearing Jan. 2 and has a Jan. 28 court date in circuit court.

According to a police report, officers were called to the residence of Brookland Superintendent Kevin McGaughey at 9:30 p.m. Thursday "in reference to a man in a Santa Claus suit inside" with a gun. Police found McGaughey and Vaughn bleeding and several items broken on the floor.

Vaughn told police that his wife was working for the school district in February when she was assaulted by a student but that the superintendent did not do anything.

The superintendent's son, Nathan McGaughey, said he answered the doorbell and Vaughn was at the door, wearing a Santa hat, white beard, red sweatshirt and black pants.

"He advised that the man said 'I did not have a chance to bring you your Christmas present so I brought it to you,"' police Officer Anthony Zaffarano said in the report.

The superintendent, who recognized Vaughn, invited the man inside, and Vaughn put a green container down, pulled out a gun, and ordered the McGaugheys to get on the floor, police said. Angelia McGaughey, the superintendent's wife, also was there.

The father and son were able to tackle Vaughn; they fought with him until the weapon came loose and they held him until authorities arrived.

"They literally fought him all over the living room," police detective Kenny Oldham said.

Vaughn struck the elder McGaughey with a vase, police said. The superintendent also sustained cracked ribs.

Police located an unloaded .22-caliber pistol on the front porch. The gun had seven bullets in the magazine but none in the chamber. They also collected the container, a cigarette lighter, a gas can containing fuel, a Santa hat and a fake beard.

In a search of Vaughn's car, police found a 9mm handgun, a magazine with 32 rounds and a smaller magazine with bullets in it.

Vaughn and the elder McGaughey were treated at the local hospital.

Vaughn's wife, Jodie, told police her husband gave her no indication that evening that he planned to confront the superintendent.