Man Charged With Child Molestation Released on Bond After State Attorney Withdraws Intent for Pretrial Detention
Lonnie Joe Ward, 47, was arrested last week and charged with child molestation.
Ward was at a haunted house and went in after all the other attendees. Ward appeared to take advantage of his position to sexually assault the victim.
Several Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies responded to the incident location.
Another child who witnessed the crime told ACSO what she saw. The witness advised Ward stared at the victim and looked at her, trying to play it off.
Another witness told Deputy Anthony Perez that Ward appeared to be drunk and said “boo” as he was leaving the haunted house.
As Perez was talking to the victim and witnesses, Deputy Eric Pal watched Ward. Pal reportedly noticed Ward had a “distinct orbital sway as he stood” and “lacked the ability to focus and follow simple instructions such as not putting his hands in his pockets, making repetitive statements, and talking to himself aloud.” Pal reported that Perez smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes.
Ward asked Pal why ACSO deputies were at the scene. Pal said it was “due to an allegation” without specifying the specifics of the allegation. Ward spontaneously stated he “never touched any child inappropriately.”
Perez walked over to Ward and asked if he knew why police were on the property. Ward said he “had an idea” but didn’t elaborate.
The incident report appears to show Ward contradicting himself. He told Perez he “may have grabbed a hold of a child in a way to verify if it was or was not his son” while simultaneously denying touching anyone.
Ward went on to call ACSO’s response an “overreaction of emotions.” Perez arrested Ward in double-locked handcuffs and escorted him to a patrol vehicle.
State Attorney Brian Kramer initially submitted a motion of intent to file for pretrial detention on Ward; however, the motion was later withdrawn citing a lack of eligibility. Ward posted a bond of $50,000.
Judge William Davis ordered Ward not to contact the victim, not contact minors unsupervised, not drink alcohol, wear an alcohol consumption monitoring device and undergo an alcohol abuse evaluation.
