Gainesville man arrested after reportedly attacking minors at haunted house

A Gainesville man was arrested Friday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor at a haunted house.

The incident occurred at 303 SW 170th St. at a Halloween haunted house event where teenagers played the “scary actors,” according to police records.

The 15-year-old victim was reportedly playing one of the “scary actors” and was in a wheelchair on the property.

According to the arrest report, Lonnie J. Ward, 47, was the last person to enter the haunted house. When he entered, he allegedly walked up to the victim, touched her inappropriately and then stared at her “in a bizarre manner,” the arrest report states.

A teenager standing behind the victim witnessed the incident and reported that Ward tried to “play it off” by looking surprised and left the area after making eye contact with him.

Ward denied the allegation of touching the victim and said he was looking for his son at the haunted house.

Ward was charged with “lewd molestation” at his home Friday, according to the arrest report.

Contact Julia Levi at [email protected]. Follow her on X @julialevi55.

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