Navy commander arrested on child sex crime charges in St. Johns County
Navy commander arrested on child sex crime charges in St. Johns County (St. Johns County Sheriff's Office)
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Jonathan Saburn, a 44-year-old active-duty U.S. Navy commander, was arrested this week on multiple child sex crime charges. Saburn also serves as the deputy director of Naval Academy Sailing.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office led the arrest, with assistance from the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Marshals Service. Saburn was taken into custody while on duty at Naval Station Mayport.
The investigation began in July 2025 after a victim came forward to report incidents of abuse that happened years earlier. Authorities say the months-long inquiry uncovered evidence that Saburn engaged in inappropriate behavior and touching on several occasions when the victim was young.
These incidents reportedly took place in both St. Johns and Duval counties. Saburn now faces charges including lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, and child abuse.
He is currently being held without bond at the Duval County jail.
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