Bob Strickley

PDT Content Manager

The New Boston Police Department arrested Michael Lockhart, 42, of New Boston Tuesday and charged him with three counts of rape. All the victims of Lockhart were under the age of 10, making the counts all first degree felonies.

According to New Boston Police, the case began in early December 2012 when three juvenile sisters told their parents that an adult family friend - Lockhart - had sexual conduct with penetration and oral penetration with them over the course of several years.

The parents, along with the juvenile sisters, came to the New Boston Police Department and reported the incidents. The NBPD opened an investigation alongside the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Child Sex Assault Unit.

“This is definitely not a norm for the village of New Boston as far as the span of the time length here,” Capt. Steve Goins said. “We are grateful for the Ohio BCI Child Sexual Assault Unit that came into the investigation with us.”

According to Goins, the incidents occurred between the years of 2002 to 2009 with multiple sexual occurrences with the victims. Each incident occurred in New Boston.

At the time of the alleged rapes, one victim was 8-years-old, another was 5-years-old and the third was 6-years-old.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Lockhart was brought in by the NBPD Tuesday, where he confessed to the offenses.

“It began early in December until today when we went and picked him and and brought him in and went over the allegations with him,” Goins said. “He ended up confessing to all the crimes. Once the case is bound over to the grand jury he could be looking at multiple counts of sex charges involving these juveniles.”

Lockhart was transported to the Scioto County Jail and is scheduled to appear in the morning at Municipal Court.

According to Goins, once the case is bound over to the grand jury, more felony sex charges will be sought by the NBPD involving additional counts of rape and gross sexual imposition.

Bob Strickley can be reached at 353-3101, ext. 296, or bstrickley@civitasmedia.com.