CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A Clay County school volunteer is permanently banned from all district campuses after his arrest in a massive, multi-agency child predator sting — one that netted nearly 30 men accused of soliciting minors online for sex.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced the results of Operation Checkmate during a press conference last week, saying the operation ran over just five days during the last week of April into May and resulted in the arrests of 29 men. Three additional arrest warrants have been issued.
Wrestling coach arrested
Among those taken into custody was Mikal Detoro, whose case drew particular attention from the sheriff.
“Also arrested in this predator sting was Michael Detoro,” Waters said. “Notably, Detoro was, at the time of his arrest, a wrestling coach of a minor child at a training facility in Clay County. Detoro drove himself to a prearranged location with the intention of engaging in sex acts with a boy in his Jeep Wrangler.”
Waters said detectives made disturbing discoveries inside the vehicle after the arrest.
“After toward the arrest, detectives discovered that his vehicle appeared equipped for child exploitation,” the sheriff said. “The seats of the Wrangler had been folded down. The interior was carpeted with blankets and...the interior of the...Wrangler was outfitted with multiple cameras. And investigators also discovered sexual paraphernalia in the vehicle.”
The sheriff also noted Detoro had a prior arrest in Clay County for contributing to the delinquency of a minor — an incident in which Detoro was reportedly found in a car at night with two minor boys and pornographic material.
Clay County schools respond
The Clay County District School issued an official statement clarifying Detoro’s limited role with the district.
“Clay County District Schools is aware of the arrest of Mikal Detoro by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office,” the district said in a statement. “Mr. Detoro has never been employed by Clay County District Schools, nor has he ever been approved to serve as a coach — a designation that strictly requires Level 2 fingerprinting, which involves an extensive fingerprint-based criminal background check through the FBI and local databases.”
The district says Detoro was only registered as a Level 1 volunteer — a status that comes with strict limitations.
“By District policy, Level 1 status mandates that an individual is never permitted to be alone with students and must always remain under the direct, constant supervision of a certified employee,” the statement reads.
The district says Detoro is now permanently barred from all Clay County campuses and from volunteering in any capacity. Officials add they are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will defer all questions about the criminal charges to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
A wide net — wide-ranging suspects
The 29 men arrested in Operation Checkmate range in age from 22 to 72 years old.
“As you can see from these photographs, they run the gamut of ages, backgrounds and races,” Waters said.
The sweep also included the arrest of John Mullins, who Waters identified as a manager of tours and events for a company that manages several Jacksonville event venues at the time of his arrest.
“When he was arrested during this operation for soliciting a boy for sexual activity,” the sheriff said.
Waters confirmed the operation involved his department partnering with 14 other agencies across Florida and the country. He also noted that five of those arrested are in the United States illegally.