Man charged with sexual assault on minors

A Milton man that was arrested Monday could face life in jail after being charged with two counts of sexual assault and battery on a victim under the age of 18 and under the age of 12.

Johnathan Lockart, 20, of Milton was arrested after two witnesses came forward suggesting Lockart would force them to do sexual favors in exchange to play a wrestling video game on his game system back in 2007.

In September 2008, a witness came forward suggesting Lockart had sexually assaulted two victims, and both were later interviewed by the Child Protection Team at the Santa Rosa Kids House.

According to the report, the victims said they were forced to do sexual favors in order to play a wrestling video game on Lockart’s gaming system at his house.

The report stated the act occurred on more than one occasion.

When police interviewed Lockart in November 2008, Lockart denied what witnesses stated in the police report. The suspect stated that on one of the occasions, he was still a minor himself.

Marc Ward the PIO officer for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said depending on the severity of a crime, a person who is under the age of 18 can still be tried as an adult. Lockart turned 18 in November of 2007.  The police report stated the incidents occurred between January and December 2007. 

“Technically, he’s still a juvenile himself,” Ward said. “They can still bind him over to adult court and wave his jurisdiction as an adult depending on how severe the crime is.”

James Parker a representative with the state attorney’s office said the bond, which was set at $100,000 wasn’t unusual for a life felony case.

“It’s a life felony, and that’s one reason for the high bond,” Parker said.  “Had he been 18 when it occurred, it would have been a capitol felony.”

Parker said capitol felonies in sexual assault cases are not unusual and depends on the severity of the cases.

When interviewed by police, Lockart said that he had woken up on one occasion and one of the victims was groping him inappropriately. He stated that he pushed the person off of him, and an unidentified person had walked in the room and saw what happened.

The suspect told police both victims would never sleep in the same room as him, but that when they did come over, they would sleep in the living room.

The police report stated Lockart said that one of the victims would grope him through his clothing while he was asleep, but stated that particular incident occurred when he was 17 years old.  Lockart told police the last time he saw the victims was December of 2007.

The suspect admitted to police that he showed one of the victims how to kiss, but denied kissing the two victims.

Lockart remains lodged at Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $100,000