Man Loses Appeal In Braintree Foster Home Kidnapping Case

BOSTON — The state Appeals Court denied the conviction appeal of a man accused of kidnapping his children from a foster home in Braintree. John Lockwood, of Foxborough, was convicted in 2014 on charges including breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, two counts of aggravated parental kidnapping, assault and battery on a person over sixty, and battery on a child, the Patriot Ledger reported. He was sentenced to four to five years in prison with 10 years of probation.

In May 2013, Lockwood broke into a foster home housing his then 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, grabbed them, and drove off, police said. According to police, the foster mother tried to stop Lockwood from taking the children, but failed. An amber alert was issued, and Lockwood was arrested later that night in Connecticut with both children. Prosecutors told the Patriot Ledger Lockwood visited his children earlier the same day, but followed the state’s Department of Children and Families worker back to the foster house.

Lockwood represented himself in the appeal and tried to argue his children were in danger at the foster home, as well as what legally constitutes breaking and entering. The court ruled Lockwood had legal avenues to get his kids back, besides committing serious crimes.

For more on this story, check out the Patriot Ledger.