CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte-based track and field coach is facing rape and indecent liberties charges involving young athletes, one as young as 11 years old, police said. Daszmar Lammon Lockhart, 37, was arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 17. He has been charged with statutory rape of a child who is 15 years of age or younger, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
He received four counts of indecent liberties with a child as well as two additional counts of statutory sex offense against a child 15 years of age or younger.
The investigation began in early September when a girl reported multiple instances of sexual assault by her former track coach, identifying Lockhart as the suspect. Further investigation led to two additional victims coming forward, revealing that they, too, had been sexually assaulted by Lockhart. The victims, all girls, were 11, 14, and 15 years old at the time of the reported assaults.
Lockhart runs “Lock Nation Athletics,” a track and field training company, and manages a travel track team. While two of the identified victims are from Charlotte, the third is from Fayetteville. Authorities believe there may be additional victims across the state.
Historically, Lockhart faced similar accusations. In 2017, he was arrested in Cabarrus County for allegedly exposing himself to a female under 16 at a shopping center.
The CMPD revealed that there might be more victims tied to Lockhart’s activities, possibly outside the 2018-2020 timeframe of the current cases. A rape report dating back several years, linked to a former address of Lockhart in northwest Charlotte, has come to light in connection with these allegations.
Anyone with information or who believes they might be a victim is encouraged to contact CMPD Detective Gose.