CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte track coach has been arrested and accused of sex crimes against student-athletes as young as 11 years old, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced on Tuesday.
Daszmar Lockhart is accused of committing these crimes between 2018 and 2020, according to CMPD. At least three young girls have accused Lockhart of crimes. At the time, the years were aged 11, 14 and 15, according to CMPD.
Two of the children are from Charlotte. One is from Fayetteville, according to officials.
Lockhart is accused of using his position as a track coach to take advantage of the children, according to police.
Lockhart is being charged with:
- Statutory Rape of a Child 15 years of age or Younger (1 count)
- Indecent Liberties with a Child (3 counts)
- Statutory Sex Offense with a Child 15 years of age or Younger (2 counts)
Investigators are asking potential other victims to contact police. There may be "numerous other victims across the state," according to CMPD Cpt. Jason Helton.
Lockhart worked as an independent track coach, according to CMPD. He operated the business Lock Nation Athletics and had a travel track team. He was not affiliated with any particular school and could have worked with student-athletes from any local school.
CMPD said a woman came forward and told police her former track coach sexually assaulted her more than a dozen times when she was a client and just a child. After her report and during the investigation more victims came forward.
According to an arrest warrant, the victim said Lockhart had a weight room in his home, and she would go to his home for private training where he sexually assaulted her.
“He used his position and power as a track coach to keep her from coming forward by making it seem as if he was the only one who could ensure her success in the sport,” said Captain Jason Helton. “The strength the victim showed by speaking to detectives allowed us to investigate and pursue this case.”
The warrant for his arrest details accounts from another victim who shared that Lockhart used a fake Snapchat account to communicate with her. She said that after a workout he offered to massage her and then assaulted her.
A third victim recounts Lockhart pleasuring himself during her training when she was only 11 years old.
Lockhart was arraigned in Mecklenburg County on Tuesday. He did not receive a bond and remains in jail.
Lockhart has a prior conviction for Disseminating Obscenity in 2017, according to the Cabarrus County Sheriff's office. The conviction stems from an incident involving a minor at a grocery store in Cabarrus County.
Detectives with the CMPD’s CAC Unit believe there could be more victims. Anyone who may have been a victim regardless of the date of the incident is urged to contact Detective Gose at 704-336-7495. Any person with additional information about this case can submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or by visiting http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
WCNC Charlotte has chosen to use this mugshot because police believe there may be additional victims in the case.