BELLE — Matthew Lee Vaughn, a Belle resident arrested Sept. 30 on charges stemming from an investigation into alleged harassment and unwanted sexually explicit communications, is now the subject of a separate drug investigation after Belle Marshal’s Office officers reportedly discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during an Oct. 3 search of a residence on South Taylor Avenue.

According to Belle Marshal Jerry Coborn, Vaughn was arrested Sept. 30 following the issuance of a warrant charging him with nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, second-degree stalking, second-degree sexual misconduct and first-degree harassment.

Vaughn was taken into custody at approximately 6 p.m., with assistance from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation leading to his arrest began Sept. 19, when Belle Police Officer James Henson responded to a residence on West Third Street at approximately 7:20 p.m. regarding a harassment complaint.

According to the marshal’s office, the complainant reported receiving repeated unwanted sexually explicit messages, photographs and videos over approximately two weeks.

The complainant told Henson that the communications allegedly continued through multiple alternate telephone numbers after the suspect had been informed that the contact was unwanted and his primary number had been blocked.

Henson reviewed the complainant’s cellphone, documented digital evidence related to the reported communications and subsequently submitted a probable cause statement requesting an arrest warrant for Vaughn.

Coborn said his department takes allegations of harassment, stalking and unwanted sexual communications seriously. He also noted that the Maries County Sheriff’s Office assisted by maintaining a presence at the residence while officers made contact with Vaughn.

Three days after Vaughn’s arrest, Belle officers conducted a separate investigation that resulted in the discovery of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at a residence associated with Vaughn.

According to an additional report submitted by Coborn, officers executed a search warrant at approximately noon, Oct. 3, on a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck.

Tiffany Johnson, a Pulaski County K-9 handler and Maries County reserve deputy, assisted with the investigation. Her K-9 alerted to the driver’s side door and panel of the truck, although officers reported finding no illegal substances inside the vehicle.

Investigators subsequently searched a residence at 707 South Taylor Avenue after obtaining written and verbal consent from Jessica Vaughn.

During the search, officers reportedly discovered two quantities of a clear, crystal-like substance and several items of suspected drug paraphernalia.

According to Coborn’s report, the substances were found inside a black, zippered hard-shell case located in a pocket of a green folding chair. The case also contained several small plastic baggies, a cut straw with a red stripe and two glass smoking pipes containing dark-colored residue.

Officers additionally recovered a portable propane cylinder fitted with a brass adapter and metal tube, which Coborn identified as a device associated with methamphetamine use.

Elsewhere in the room, Johnson reportedly located a red, gummy bear-shaped glass water pipe that had been modified to accommodate a smaller glass pipe. A blue torch lighter was discovered nearby.

Both samples of the suspected controlled substance were subjected to preliminary field testing using methamphetamine test kits. According to Coborn, both produced positive results for methamphetamine.

One baggie contained approximately 0.069 grams of the suspected drug. The second sample was consumed during testing.

Investigators photographed and secured the recovered items as evidence, which Coborn said would be submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory in Jefferson City for additional examination.

The suspected drugs and paraphernalia were recovered from a room at the end of a hallway inside the residence. According to Coborn’s report, Jessica Vaughn told investigators that her husband frequently spent time in that room.

Coborn also referenced a court-ordered drug test administered to Matthew Vaughn on Oct. 2, which reportedly indicated the presence of amphetamines and methamphetamine in his system.

Based on the evidence recovered during the Oct. 3 investigation, Coborn said he was applying for an additional warrant seeking charges against Vaughn for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The drug-related allegations are separate from the charges associated with Vaughn’s Sept. 30 arrest. The available reports do not establish whether a prosecutor has formally filed the additional drug charges or whether a court has issued the requested warrant.

All individuals accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.