A Scribner man, Jordan Vaughn, 34, has been 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, in Lincoln, Nebraska. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis ordered Vaughn to serve 360 months for each count consecutively, totaling 720 months’ imprisonment. There is no possibility of parole in the federal system. Upon release, Vaughn will be subject to a life term of supervised release.
Authorities began investigating Vaughn after it was discovered he had sent images of his genitals to a minor. Further investigation revealed that Vaughn had sexually abused multiple children under the age of 12 and documented the abuse digitally. Evidence showed that some assaults occurred while victims were asleep. Law enforcement found a large collection of child pornography and proof of its production on Vaughn’s phone.
Vaughn was employed by the Winnebago Police Department during late 2024 and early 2025 but was terminated following these offenses.
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.”
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigation was led by the Lincoln Police Department with support from the Omaha FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
