The local drug task force arrested a Little Rock man on multiple felony charges early Tuesday at a Hot Springs motel after allegedly finding him with drugs, a loaded gun, almost $7,000 in cash and in the company of two teenage girls.

Jacoby Onterio Vaughan, 29, of Little Rock, was taken into custody at the Motel 6, 106 Lookout Point, shortly before 1:30 a.m. and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime, punishable by up to 20 years, and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.

Vaughan remained in custody Tuesday on zero bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 11 p.m. Monday, Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Shane Tatum responded to the Motel 6 for a welfare check and knocked on the door of Room 246.

A 16-year-old girl answered the door and Tatum noticed a “very strong odor” of marijuana coming from the room. He asked the girl who else was in the room and she said, “No one,” but at that moment a second girl, 14, came to the door.

At that point, Tatum saw a black male lying on the far bed in the room and stepped inside and yelled at him. The man did not respond and since Tatum was called there initially for a welfare check he entered the room and yelled at the man again.

The deputy noted there was a Taurus 9-mm handgun with an extended magazine on the chair near the man which he retrieved as he yelled at the man again, who finally “acknowledged my presence,” Tatum said.

Tatum observed a backpack with marijuana visible in the front see-through pocket. It was found to contain two plastic baggies with a total of 36.6 grams, or 1.2 ounces, of marijuana, a digital scale and a bank bag with $6,060 in $20 bills.

Vaughan was taken into custody at that point and a computer check showed he had no prior felony history. The 9-mm was found to be fully loaded with 30 rounds and a laser sight.

In searching Vaughan further, the deputy found he had another $900 in $100 bills in his pockets for a total of $6,960.

At that point, Tatum notified the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force and an investigator came to the scene. Tatum also contacted the Department of Human Services about the juvenile girls being there without a parent present.

The parents were contacted and responded to the motel and took custody of the girls. The night manager of the motel stated she did not rent the room to Vaughan or the juveniles.

The DTF is comprised of investigators from the Arkansas State Police, GCSD, Hot Springs Police Department, 18th Judicial District East prosecuting attorney’s office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Local on 05/06/2020