Babysitter Held on Sex Charges
By Sian Perry
Sian Perry, News-Leader “Remember that not all male babysitters are bad,” Nicholas Mitko Clark wrote in his profile on a babysitting services website that also featured a photo of him with his arm around a young boy. Clark, 21, of Yulee, was arrested Thursday on federal child pornography charges stemming from an investigation that began last year into a suspect in Canada. Clark is accused of engaging in an instant message conversation with that suspect and receiving and distributing “images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,” according to a statement issued Monday by U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. Investigators also found child pornography on Clark’s computer as well as Google searches relating to young boys and teen sex, Bentley said. Clark worked at the Fernandina Beach Boys & Girls Club, volunteered with area youth organizations and churches, including First Presbyterian here and South Jacksonville Presbyterian, and was a summer camp counselor. The Yulee High School graduate was one of the founders of Teens for Change and the student representative of NACDAC, the Nassau Alcohol, Crime and Drug Abatement Coalition. He had been employed part-time for just under a year at the Roberts Learning and Achievement Center on Lime Street, according to Shannon H. Perry, president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. He was fired upon his arrest, Perry said Tuesday, adding in a prepared statement, “We are unaware of any issues or incidents involving any members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida with Mr. Clark.” She said officials from the organization were planning to meet with parents Tuesday afternoon at the club in Fernandina Beach to address their questions and concerns. Perry said Clark successfully passed the Florida Department of Children and Families Level 2 background screening as well as drug screenings before he began working with the agency. The Rev. Wain Wesberry of First Presbyterian Church said Tuesday that Clark was never on staff at the church and was an occasional volunteer. “The entire First Presbyterian Church family was surprised and profoundly saddened to learn of these allegations as there has never been any indication or accusation of impropriety” by Clark, Wesberry said. Based on the present information, there is no evidence to suggest that anything inappropriate occurred with children who attend First Presbyterian or participated in its ministries, he added. “The trust that exists among parents, children and our ministries is paramount to the church and our relationship with members in the community. The church has strict policies and safeguards in place to protect the children in our care,” said Wesberry. “Any action that causes that trust to be questioned is deeply disturbing to us.” He added that the church will continue to provide any assistance needed to law enforcement and is praying that their actions insure the safety of all children. If convicted, Clark faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, up to 20 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervision, Bentley said. Clark was arrested Sept. 11 at his residence. He was ordered detained pending a hearing Thursday at 1 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Klindt in Jacksonville. According to the criminal complaint, the charges stem from the arrest of a suspect in Canada in 2013 and communications between that person and others relating to child exploitation offenses. Conversations between the Canadian and Clark were included in the communications, the complaint alleges. “Specifically, on April 30, 2013, Clark and this individual engaged in an instant message conversation wherein Clark received and distributed images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,” the complaint reads. “A forensic examination of Clark’s computer revealed additional images of child pornography. In addition, agents located Google search terms such as ‘young boys on cam’ and ‘teen boy sex’ on Clark’s computer, as well as remnants of chats using another messaging service discussing a preference for young and little boys.” Clark said in his profile on sittercity.com, “I’m so excited to have the oppurtunity (sic) to work with your children/child. I have been working with young people for a while now. When I was 14 I got my first ‘official’ babysitting job. “I babysat for 3 children ages from 4-10. It was so much fun and there began my career of babysitting. I have worked with young people since then, volunteering at our local Little League, working very closely with the Middle School and Elementary age groups at my church,” the profile continues. It goes on to mention Clark’s work as a summer camp counselor for two years, and his penchant for helping those in need. “It is my goal to insure any child that I work with, safety. My second most important goal is to make sure the children have fun, or a good time, while still maintaining the rules that parents have made clear. I so look forward to working with you and your kiddo! Remember that not all male babysitters are bad. I happen to truly love what I do and many will attest to this. God Bless.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education visit www. usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Read more: Fernandina Beach FL News Leader. The local news source for Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach FL - Babysitter held on sex charges
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