Can I prevent an Active Directory account from locking out?

You can do it but you still need a GPO. Create a GPO that has the necessary settings, then eliminate the "apply group policy" right from the ACL. Create a group that you want to have eliminated from password lockouts, add your user(s) to the group, and assign that group the "apply group policy" right for your GPO.

Remember that GPOs are applied in the following order:

Local Site Domain OU

so be sure to apply your new GPO at the correct level so it's not stomped on by something below it.