Mother indicted for threatening judge, children on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mother indicted for threatening judge, children

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 3:14 pm

Mother indicted for threatening judge, children | JUVENILE COURT

Cathrine Vaughn

An angry mother whose parental rights were terminated by a judge was indicted Wednesday for threatening to kidnap the judge’s children, Murfreesboro Police said.

After an investigation, Murfreesboro Police Detective Wayne Lawson charged mother Cathrine Vaughn, also known as Cathrine Funk, 27, of 2223 Norman Ave. in a sealed indictment with felony retaliation for past action against a judge.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said Vaughn was accused of making the threats against Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport and her family.

Lawson originally charged Vaughn with aggravated child neglect. Vaughn answered the charges in Juvenile Court where Davenport removed her children Nov. 13, 2006. Vaughn was allowed to see her children through the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center.

During to Vaughn’s anger and cursing at the Exchange Club staff, her rights to see her children were revoked, the spokesman said.

Officer Terry Spence responded to Davenport’s court Dec. 19 where the judge reported Vaughn threatened her.

Staff from Realist Interventions working with Vaughn and her parenting issues and anger management class learned Vaughn allegedly followed Davenport home and saw her children.

“If Judge Scott (Davenport) takes my kids, I’ll take hers,” Vaughn allegedly threatened and added she hated the judge.

Evans said the Realist Interventions staff believed the threats were credible, quoting Vaughn as saying she liked her anger and planned to “get revenge on the judge.”

Lawson launched an investigation into the threats and presented his findings to the grand jury in its January term this week. Grand jurors issued a sealed indictment charging her with retaliation.

“You can’t make threats against a judge and her family for doing her job,” Evans said. “This is as serious as it gets. A judge is sworn to uphold the law and should be able to do without threat or retaliation.”

This case was of utmost importance for the police department, the spokesman said.

“We will not tolerate this type of behavior against our judges,” Evans said.

Davenport said threats come with the job but considering the seriousness of the situation, she will be cautious. She feels confident Murfreesboro Police and sheriff's deputies will give her protection on and off the bench.

Because of the potential conflict, Davenport will ask another judge to hear Vaughn's case regarding termination of her parental rights.

The police department’s Special Operations Unit responded to Vaughn’s home to arrest her. She was taken into custody, then booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where bond was set at $100,000. She is scheduled to receive a copy of the indictment Jan. 20 in Circuit Court.

Tagged under JUVENILE COURT

Member Opinions:

By: lightchick on 1/8/09
This chick sounds like a nut job. I would say that I hope she gets some help. But, it doesn't seem as if you wants any.

By: donodude20 on 1/8/09
She LOOKS like a nut job too!!

By: Geana on 1/8/09
I agree. I'd normally say don't judge a book by it's cover, but we've been given enough insight to the pages contained within the mindset of this woman.

By: vdanr on 1/9/09
Wow, I wonder how many more children she will birth and possibly have taken because she is not getting any help???!!! Things that make you say, hmmmm!!!