@hattiesburg_patriot_bts: COURT ORDER DETAILS CHANCERY CANDIDATE VAUGHN'S AFFAIR, DISCIPLINE OF WOMAN'S SON Hattiesburg Patriot News Media — A chancery court order filed September 11, 2026, describes Forrest County Justice Court Judge Zach Vaughn's extramarital affair with a woman involved in a child custody case, and his treatment of her young son, according to the order. The order was signed by Chancellor Sheila Smallwood, the wife of one of Vaughn's opponents, Hattiesburg attorney John Smallwood. Sheila Smallwood is running unopposed for the Place 1 District 13 seat, while John Smallwood, Zach Vaughn, and George Schmidt are running for the Place 2 seat in the November 3 election. Vaughn testified as a witness during the custody trial in Forrest County Chancery Court. The order discusses him under its section on the moral fitness of the parents, a factor Mississippi chancery judges weigh in custody disputes. Judge Smallwood said in her order: "Carria has been involved in a romantic relationship with her married paramour [lover] and sometimes employer, Attorney Zach Vaughn." The order states Vaughn and the woman took overnight trips with her son and were together at other times while the boy was present, trips and a relationship status Vaughn acknowledged in the custody trial testimony. According to Judge Smallwood's order, Vaughn's testimony also acknowledged that he and the woman forcibly made the boy eat deer sausage, that he called the boy a "sissy" which he claimed was in fun, and that he disciplined the boy by making him sit outside on a porch during an out-of-town trip to the mountains. The boy's counselor testified that the boy disliked Vaughn and did not want him around, the order states. Vaughn did not provide a comment to Hattiesburg Patriot News Media. Smallwood ruled that the boy's father would maintain physical custody. Chancery judges preside over divorce and child custody cases, where their responsibilities include evaluating the moral fitness of parents, determining custody arrangements, and dividing marital property — duties central to the judicial office Vaughn is seeking.#judge #politicstiktok #attorney #behindthescenes #hattiesburgpatriot

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Thursday 29 October 2026 10:20:02 GMT