Track coach accused of sexually assaulting three girls, CMPD suspects more victims
A 37-year-old track coach is facing child sex assault charges after three women alleged he abused them when they were minors, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said at a press conference Tuesday.
Capt. Jason Helton said Daszmar Lammon Lockhart, of Charlotte, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count of statutory rape of a child 15 years or younger, four counts of incident liberties with a child and two counts of statutory sex offense with a child 15 years of age or younger.
Lockhart is the owner of a track and field company called Lock Nation Athletics and has a travel track team, Helton said. As an independent contractor, Lockhart coached throughout the Charlotte area and possibly across the state.
He previously worked as an assistant track coach at West Mecklenburg High School.
One of the women earlier this month alleged Lockhart assaulted her when she was 14 and he was her coach, “and did so more than a dozen occasions at different addresses.”
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the victim said the assaults took place between 2018 and 2020, and that Lockhart would assault her in a weight room at his house during private trainings a few days a week.
“He used his position of power as a track coach to keep her from coming forward by making it seem as though he was the only one who can ensure her success in the sport,” Helton said. “The strength the victim showed by coming forward and speaking with our detectives allowed us to further investigate and pursue this case.”
Two more victims alleged they were assaulted by Lockhart as minors when he was their coach in the last several years, Helton said. One of them was 11-years-old and living in another jurisdiction, an affidavit said.
The other, 15 at the time, alleged she was assaulted at Lockhart’s home while receiving private training, the affidavit said. She alleged that Lockhart created a fake Snapchat account to talk to her since her parents checked her phone.
Helton said two of the assaults took place in Charlotte and the other in Fayetteville. He said Lockhart had a prior conviction for disseminating obscenity, in 2019, from an incident involving a minor at a grocery story in Cabarrus County.
The department anticipates there are more victims, Helton said.
“We are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Mr. Lockhart to come forward and speak with our crimes against children detectives,” Helton said.
Lockhart was given a $200,000 secured bond.
Helton said it’s important for parents to keep track of their kids, double check on coaches or adults they are leaving them with by asking for references, and check kids’ phones to see who they’re speaking with.
Children “may not know what wrong behavior is, but if something’s just a little bit off, have them come forward and talk to you, talk to a teacher or school resource officer,” Helton said.
Detective Anasterasia Gose with the crimes against children unit can be reached at 704-336-7495. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or by visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
Observer staff writer Langston Wertz Jr. contributed to this report.
