Cornhusker State News

A Scribner man, Jordan Vaughn, 34, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after being convicted on two counts of production of child pornography. The sentencing took place on September 11, 2025, at the federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis imposed a sentence of 360 months for each count, with the terms to be served consecutively. There is no possibility of parole under the federal system. Upon completion of his prison term, Vaughn will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release.

The investigation began when authorities discovered that Vaughn had sent images of his genitals to a minor. Further inquiries revealed that he sexually abused several children aged 12 and younger and recorded digital evidence of these acts. Investigators found additional child pornography on Vaughn’s phone as well as proof that he produced such material himself. At the time of some offenses, Vaughn was employed by the Winnebago Police Department in late 2024 and early 2025 but was dismissed due to these crimes.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods commented: “The successful investigation and prosecution of this egregious child sex offender not only ended the living nightmares of each vulnerable victim he targeted but also stripped this predator of his police badge and prevented him from carrying a weapon on the Winnebago reservation and having access to more children in the line of duty.  The just and appropriate sentence in this case fits the outrageousness and depravity of the unthinkable crimes committed against these innocent children.”

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources across federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The Lincoln Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.