A 53-year-old Borden man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly grabbed a teenage girl outside her Salem home, threatened her with a gun and tried to force her into his vehicle, only to be pinned down by her own family until deputies could arrive. The girl's screams and struggle on Oct. 23 are credited with turning what could have been a tragedy into an arrest.
According to the wlky.com, Jeffrey Allen Mauck of Borden approached the girl while she was outside her home, grabbed her and threatened her with a gun in an attempt to force her inside his car. Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff's Department responded at 4:30 p.m. to a home on North Naugle Road in Salem, as reported by wdrbwave.com, after a report of a male attempting to abduct a juvenile at gunpoint.
Girl's Screams Bring Family Running
Officials said the girl screamed for help and fought to get away, which alerted family members who came outside and intervened, the station's report notes. Family members then detained Mauck until law enforcement arrived on scene, holding him in place until deputies could take over.
Responding officers took custody of Mauck at the scene. A search turned up a cache of weapons: officials recovered a revolver, ammunition, handcuffs and two folding knives, per the same account.
Sheriff Calls Incident 'Extremely Disturbing'
Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller announced the arrest, saying the incident was extremely disturbing and that officials were thankful the girl escaped and her family acted quickly. Miller added that anyone attempting to harm or abduct a child in Washington County would face the full force of law enforcement, and said protecting children and keeping families safe would remain among law enforcement's highest priorities, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Department.
The Salem Police Department assisted the Washington County Sheriff's Department during the response, per the sheriff's office post. Mauck was transported to Ascension St. Vincent Salem Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Washington County Detention Center, the sheriff's department said.
Felony Charges and What Comes Next
Mauck faces preliminary charges of attempted kidnapping, criminal confinement, aggravated battery and pointing a firearm, all felonies, according to the WLKY report. He is also charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, the station said.
Officials said the case has been turned over to the Washington County Prosecutor's Office for review and consideration of formal charges. Mauck was scheduled to appear in court Monday at 2 p.m. for an initial hearing, per the WLKY article. As with all pending criminal cases, Mauck is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
