Gautier Mayor Charged with Misdemeanors After Concert Altercation
Staff Editor Gautier Mayor Faces Misdemeanor Charges Following Concert Incident
Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughn is facing misdemeanor charges following a complaint filed by Linda Anderson, wife of Ward 4 Councilman Rusty Anderson. The charges, which include disturbing the peace, public drunkenness, and disorderly conduct, stem from an alleged incident at a Sam Hunt concert on September 6.
According to the incident report, an argument erupted between Linda Anderson and Mayor Vaughn during the concert. Anderson claims Vaughn yelled at her about an expired business license and allegedly threatened her, saying, “I’m going to get you.” She described the mayor as heavily intoxicated at the time.
This incident reportedly marks the second occasion where Vaughn has been accused of verbally confronting the Andersons at a concert. Each charge carries potential penalties of up to $500 in fines and/or six months in jail.
Vaughn’s attorney, Cameron McCormick, has requested a probable cause hearing before further legal action is taken. McCormick suggests the charges may be politically motivated, citing previous statements made by the Andersons against Vaughn’s administration. The attorney also implied that the charges could be a diversion from Councilman Anderson’s past controversies, including backlash over an alleged racist social media post.
Mayor Vaughn expressed disappointment over what he calls politically motivated accusations and emphasized his commitment to serving Gautier. Meanwhile, Councilman Rusty Anderson has previously faced challenges to prove or resign over a controversial Facebook post, which he claimed resulted from hacking.
The Sun Herald requested the incident report, which was confirmed by Police Chief David Bever. Notably, Vaughn’s attorney released the incident report before city officials did. The case has been moved to Jackson County Justice Court for further proceedings.
As this legal situation unfolds, it continues to highlight the ongoing political tensions within Gautier’s local government.
