About Daniel Vaughn

Joseph “Daniel” Vaughn is a gifted trial lawyer who specializes in criminal defense and personal injury. Daniel graduated from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana.  Daniel began his career in criminal law as a deputy prosecutor at the Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office. While there he tried countless bench trials in the Martinsville City and Mooresville Town Courts, litigated traffic-stop/search-and-seizure issues and tried multiple felony jury trials.

Next, Daniel went to work for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the largest and busiest prosecutor’s office in Indiana. Daniel worked his way up from the high-volume misdemeanor courts, aka “Muni Division.” Many talented trial attorneys are former deputy prosecutors who began honing their courtroom skills in these proving-ground courts; retrospectively, many colloquially refer to their time in Muni as “gladiator school” because of the demanding, relentless, pace of having 1,500+ criminal cases assigned per deputy. Daniel tried innumerable bench trials and suppression hearings for all manner of misdemeanor offenses, including (but not limited to) OVWI/DUI, gun possession, driving while suspended, possession of a controlled substance, public intoxication, resisting law enforcement, battery, domestic violence, theft, etc. 

Thereafter, Daniel moved to the OVWI Prosecution Unit where he received intensive, specialized training in the science behind, and the special legal nuances required for, prosecuting drunk driving cases. Subsequently, Daniel was promoted to the Level 6 Felony Division, and then promoted again, ultimately spending several years in the Major Felony Division, prosecuting serious victim crimes.  

During his time with the Marion Prosecutor’s Office, Daniel has tried major felony juries for such serious offenses as drug dealing/possession, sex crimes, robbery, serious violent felons in possession of a firearm, burglary, and murder. Such experiences have helped Daniel develop an extensive knowledge of the Indiana Criminal Code and first-hand knowledge of how the prosecutor will build a case, thus making him a formidable advocate for his clients’ rights and freedoms.

Prior to law school, Daniel served as an infantry Marine, and later managed operations for several major automotive and aerospace manufacturing companies. Daniel received his Master of Business Administration from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, Indiana.

Outside of work, Daniel enjoys spending time with his family and watching his son’s high school football games.