Lunsford's Son Faces Sex Charge

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 30, 2007

Mark Lunsford's 18-year-old son was arrested in his home state of Ohio and faces a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl.

The incident stems from a complaint filed by the mother of Joshua Lunsford's young girlfriend. He has pleaded not guilty.

The mother says in a police report that Joshua Lunsford fondled the girl at a skating rink and outside a shopping mall on March 30 and 31 while the two were kissing.

Although the mother says the girl was a willing participant, Ohio law prohibits anyone 18 or older from having sexual contact with anyone younger than 16. Lunsford turned 18 in February.

If Lunsford were less than four years older than the girl, he only could be prosecuted on a misdemeanor charge. Because he is four years and one month older, he faces a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 1 1/2 years in prison.

In 2005, Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford, Joshua Lunsford's 9-year-old half sister, was abducted from her bedroom in Homosassa by convicted sex offender John Evander Couey. Couey held her captive in his mobile home, sexually assaulted her, then buried her alive.

This year, a jury convicted Couey of kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. Jurors recommended a death sentence.

On Tuesday, Mark Lunsford said he did not know anything about his son's arrest. Although the two talk regularly, his son did not mention it. Joshua Lunsford lives in Ohio with Mark Lunsford's first wife.

A call to Joshua Lunsford was not returned.

Court records also show that on April 26, the girl's father confronted Joshua Lunsford at a skating rink, put his hands around the teen's neck and squeezed. In front of several witnesses, he told Lunsford to stay away from his daughter.

At the time, Lunsford told police he knew the girl but did not have sexual contact with her because she is too young.

The girl's father pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

Mark Lunsford said it has not been proved that his son has done anything wrong. Even what has been alleged, he said, cannot be compared with the crimes of the pedophiles he has helped put in prison through his work with the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation.

"We're talking about Romeo and Juliet here, not some 36-year-old pervert following around a 10-year-old," Lunsford said.

Lunsford's foundation helps educate the nation about The Jessica Lunsford Act, a law passed by several states that enhances punishments for sex offenders.

In January, Ohio passed the Lunsford Act to be used when a sex abuse victim is younger than 13. Joshua Lunsford will not be prosecuted under the act that bears his surname because the girl in question is 14.

In a previous interview, Lunsford said his son gets A's and B's in school and is a championship wrestler. He is expected to be the first in his family to attend college and hopes to take over the foundation someday.

Researcher Michael Messano contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813)259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.