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A 47-year-old man named Lonnie Joe Ward, Jr. has been arrested and charged with felony lewd and lascivious behavior for allegedly groping a 15-year-old girl who was working as a teen actor at a haunted house in Newberry, Florida. The incident took place on the evening of Friday, Oct. 11, when Ward, the final patron of the evening, approached the victim who was sitting in a chair with a male juvenile actor standing behind her.
According to reports, Ward allegedly touched the victim inappropriately over her clothing and then grabbed her arm while staring at her in a bizarre manner for about 30 seconds. The male juvenile actor corroborated the victim's account, stating that Ward groped the victim for about five seconds before grabbing her arm and staring at her for another 30 seconds. Ward reportedly looked surprised when confronted by the male actor before attempting to "play it off" and walking away.
Ward was taken into custody and booked into the Alachua County Jail at 12:47 a.m. on Saturday. Despite denying the allegations and claiming he was looking for his son while walking through the haunted house, prosecutors have sought to have Ward held in detention until his trial. A judge has ordered that if Ward is released on bail, he must have no contact with the victim.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of young actors at seasonal facilities, prompting the authorities to take proactive measures to ensure a secure environment for individuals, especially teenagers working in the entertainment industry. The Alachua County Sheriffโs Office is continuing its investigation into the matter and has not provided further details at this time.
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