Davisville man indicted for trying to coerce teen girl into sex, sending obscene material

Davisville man indicted for trying to coerce teen girl into sex, sending obscene material

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Steven Lockhart, of Davisville, West Virginia, is facing charges involving a minor, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Lockhart, 56, was indicted on one count of “Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor” and one count of “Attempted Transfer of Obscene Materials to a Minor.” Lockhart is accused of using his phone to entice a minor in Harrison County to engage in sexual activity in April 2020. He is also accused of sending obscene material on the phone to a minor under the age of 16.

Lockhart faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the coercion count and faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the obscene material count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.