Polson man charged with rape in Missoula

MISSOULA — A Polson man is being charged with a felony after allegedly raping his friend’s girlfriend the same night he was released from jail.

According to Missoula County District Court Records, Vaughn David James is accused of sexual intercourse without consent after masquerading as the victim’s boyfriend in her Missoula home.

On May 17, James had just been released from a prison commitment and was staying the night at a friend’s house. According to the affidavit, James’ friend suffers from insomnia and was sleeping on the couch.

At about midnight, the victim said a male came up to the room who she thought was her boyfriend and proceeded to have sex with her. At that point she still thought the male was her boyfriend but when she touched his face she realized that it was James.

The victim then pushed James off her and ran into the living room and told her boyfriend that he had tried to rape her. She added that James had even used her boyfriend’s deodorant to smell like him.

The boyfriend then yelled for James to get out of the house and drove him to a convenience store, when he refused to get out of the vehicle, the boyfriend kicked James in the knee and he got out of the truck and “limped away.”

The court affidavit also said that James was seen in his truck outside of his girlfriend’s house a few hours later and had to be chased away.

James is currently charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and faces up to 100 years or life in jail and a five of $50,000.

He was also charged with a similar crime in Lake County but the trial results in a hung jury.