An active-duty U.S. Navy Commander has been arrested on charges of child sex crimes, according to authorities in St. Johns County. Commander Jonathan Saburn, who served as the Deputy Director of Naval Academy Sailing at Naval Station Mayport, was taken into custody while on duty, facing multiple allegations including lewd or lascivious molestation, exhibition, and child abuse. This arrest was the culmination of an investigation that began in July 2025 after an victim reported the abuse, as reported by News4Jax.
The lengthy investigation into Saburn's conduct, conducted by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Marshals Service, found that the 44-year-old had engaged in what they characterized as "inappropriate behavior and touching" over multiple occasions, as detailed in statements obtained by First Coast News. The incidents reportedly occurred across two counties, St. Johns and Duval, which is home to Naval Station Mayport.
The accounts of these incidents have now led to Saburn's incarceration at the Duval County jail, where he currently remains held without bond. The nature of the charges indicate a serious breach of conduct, particularly for someone of his standing within the Navy—Saburn was at the rank of commander at the time of his arrest, a position of significant responsibility and trust.
The alleged episodes are considered to have happened when the reported victim was young. This detail underscores the gravity of the charges Saburn is facing and points to a profound violation of the trust typically vested in military personnel, as echoed by a statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office quoted by Action News Jax. The investigation took months to thoroughly to document the scope of the allegations before Saburn's arrest was conducted at his place of work, demonstrating the seriousness with which the authorities have approached the case.
The circumstances surrounding these charges, along with the ongoing legal process, will continue to develop. Additional information and updates on the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings are expected to be reported by local news outlets.
