By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
The Tampa Tribune

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 younger girlfriend. He has pleaded not guilty.

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

Although the mother said the girl was a willing participant, Ohio law prohibits anyone older than 18 from having sexual contact with anyone under 16 years old. Lunsford turned 18 in February.

If Lunsford were less than four years older than the girl, he could only be prosecuted with a misdemeanor. Because he is four years and one month older, he faces a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 1½ years in prison.

In 2005, Jessica Marie “Jessie” Lunsford, Joshua’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.

Earlier 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 and is raised by Mark Lunsford’s first wife.

A call by The Tampa Tribune 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 Joshua to stay away from his daughter.

At the time, Joshua 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 nothing has been proven to show that his son has done anything wrong. Even the crime as alleged, he said, cannot be compared to the pedophiles he has helped to put into 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 Joshua was an A/B student and a championship wrestler. He is expected to be the first in his family to attend college and hopes to take over the foundation some day.

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

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