Share and Follow

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Lonnie Joe Ward, Jr., 47, was arrested last night and charged with lewd/lascivious behavior with a victim under the age of 16 after allegedly touching a girl inappropriately at a haunted house in Jonesville.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the haunted house, where the victim reportedly said she was one of the “scare actors” in a haunted house last night and Ward was the last person to go through the haunted house. She said she was sitting in a chair and a second juvenile was standing behind her; when Ward entered the area, she said, he walked over to her, bent down, and touched her inappropriately over her clothes. She said he then grabbed her arm and held onto it for about 30 seconds, stared at her “in a bizarre manner,” then let go and left the area.

The juvenile standing behind the victim reportedly said he saw Ward touch the victim inappropriately while staring at her for about five seconds, then he grabbed her arm for about 30 seconds while continuing to stare at her. He said Ward then looked at him and tried to “play it off,” looking surprised, before leaving the area.

Post Miranda, Ward denied that he had touched anyone in the haunted house and said he had been looking for his son.

Ward has a 1996 felony conviction for uttering a forged instrument and a 2009 misdemeanor conviction for possession of drug equipment. Judge Adam Lee ordered him held without bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 


Share and Follow
You May Also Like

A judge in the 9th Circuit proposes re-examining a case involving the National Guard

Left: FILE – Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his revised state budget…

Recalling the Balloon Boy Hoax That Captivated the Nation and Sparked Controversy

Up, up, and away. On October 15, 2009, millions of people were…

Man wanted in New York for sexually assaulting a child is arrested by GPD

Staff report from Gainesville Police Department social media post GAINESVILLE, Fla. –…

Judge Cannon asked to make a decision on ongoing Mar-a-Lago problem

Left: Judge Aileen Cannon (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of…

Relative is responsible for murdering family member and abandoning the body on the roadside, as per Sheriff.

Background: The area around County Road 39 and County Road 8 in…

Judicial Critique of DOJ Lawyer at Abrego Garcia Hearing

Inset: Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an undated photo (CASA). Background: President Donald…

McDonald’s employee allegedly killed manager after being told to leave: Police

Inset: Jennifer “Jamma” Harris, who was fatally stabbed by a coworker at…

Father Accused of Abusing and Fatally Injuring Infant, Disposing of Cigarette Ash on Child: District Attorney

Jakob Krause (Washington County). An Arkansas man is facing capital murder charges…