ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A high-ranking U.S. Navy officer serving as Deputy Director of Naval Academy Sailing was arrested Friday on multiple felony charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a child, authorities announced.
Jonathan Saburn, 44, a Commander in the United States Navy, was taken into custody by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Navy Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the U.S. Marshals Service. The arrest occurred while Saburn was on duty at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville.
Saburn faces charges of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation, Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, and Child Abuse. He is being held without bond at the Duval County Jail.
The investigation began in July 2025 after the victim came forward to report incidents of abuse that had occurred years earlier when they were a minor. Over the course of a months-long probe, detectives determined that Saburn allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior and touching on several occasions involving the victim. The incidents reportedly took place in both St. Johns and Duval counties.
Saburn, who reported to the U.S. Naval Academy in July as deputy director of Naval Academy sailing after previous service aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been placed in custody pending further legal proceedings.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the collaborative effort with federal partners in apprehending the suspect. No additional details about the victim’s identity or the exact nature of the allegations were released to protect the victim’s privacy.
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