A group of criminals in Altoona took the time to plan a break-in and kidnapping, but ended up kidnapping the wrong man.
Early Saturday morning, around 1 a.m., police say four or five men went to a house in the 2100 block of 3rd Avenue in Altoona, cut the power, and broke in.
They kidnapped a man living there, thinking he knew about stolen guns. They put a pillowcase over his head and drove off to interrogate him.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old William Clarence Vaughn of Tyrone was left to watch the female resident to make sure she did not call police. Altoona police tell WTAJ during this time, Vaughn told her he had just spent seven years in prison and if she wanted her boyfriend brought home safe, she “knew what to do.” Police say Vaughn then raped her.
The other suspects realized they had the wrong guy and brought him home. The woman told everyone Vaughn raped her, which police were told was not part of the criminals’ plan. A fight then broke out, and everyone tried to beat up Vaughn.
“This was some time of vigilante justice gone wrong,” said Lt. Jeff Pratt of Altoona Police Department, “and perhaps if they had involved law enforcement authorities it never would have, you know, devolved into what it became, which was a home invasion burglary kidnapping and escalating to a rape.”
Vaughn was arrested, and police said he confessed immediately. He is facing multiple felony charges. They also arrested 19-year-old Dominic Sweeney of Tyrone for his involvement in planning the crime.
Police are still investigating before arresting other suspects.