Alachua man arrested for sexual battery of juvenile

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Robert James Lockard, 22, was arrested yesterday for allegedly sexually battering a girl between the ages of 12 and 16.

An Alachua Police Department (APD) Detective reported that on September 3, the victim waited for her parent to fall asleep, and then she snuck out and walked to Lockard’s apartment after sending him a message.

According to the detective, the victim already knew Lockard, and he was “explicitly” aware of her age.

After the victim arrived at Lockard’s apartment, he allegedly gave her marijuana, which they both smoked, and then he started kissing the victim and eventually penetrated her. The victim reportedly told the detective that after he finished, they watched a show and fell asleep. She had set an alarm to make sure she would get home before her parent woke up, and she said Lockard told her to text him when she got home safely.

The detective reported that the victim’s phone showed a history of communication between Lockard and the victim on Instagram and Snapchat.

The detective also reported that APD collected the unwashed undergarments the victim had worn during the incident, and those will be submitted to forensic and DNA analysis.

Lockard has been charged with lewd or lascivious battery on a person between the ages of 12 and 16. He has no criminal convictions but is currently facing a Notice to Appear for driving without a valid license. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing. Judge Rawls also ordered him to have no contact with minors.

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.