CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A Clay County mother says she still does not have the answers she needs — and she is not backing down.
Sarah Ouellette, whose son wrestled at Wilkinson Junior High School, confronted the Clay County School Board at Thursday’s meeting, demanding to know how Mikal DeToro, a volunteer wrestling coach with a criminal history involving minors, was ever allowed near children. When the board responded by announcing an internal investigation, Ouellette was not satisfied.
“Erin Skipper brought it right back, we’re gonna do our internal investigation, and that’s why I had the outburst to say, ‘We don’t trust you,’” Ouellette said.
Coach arrested in ‘Operation Checkmate’
DeToro was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on April 30 as part of an undercover operation called “Operation Checkmate,” announced last week. The sting netted more than two dozen men accused of attempting to solicit minors online. Court records show DeToro has a criminal history involving incidents with minors.
The Clay County School Board says it is conducting an internal investigation to determine how DeToro was allowed to become a volunteer.
Mother says she saw warning signs
Ouellette says the red flags were there. She noticed DeToro filming and photographing children during wrestling matches — something she now knows violates the Clay County Schools Volunteer Handbook, which states volunteers may not take pictures or video of students other than their own children.
“I didn’t like it when it started, and I questioned it over and over,” Ouellette said. “I asked repeatedly, when are we going to get copies of that as parents? I had no idea that he was not supposed to be doing that because I trusted that the school had done their job.”
When she learned of DeToro’s arrest, the reality hit hard.
“I started crying. I started shaking. I was like, my poor son. I let a predator... I trusted them. And there was a predator around my son,” Ouellette said.
Questions about photos and videos remain unanswered
Now Ouellette wants to know where those photos and videos are — and who may have seen them.
“The head coach works right under the athletic director. The athletic director sat there and watched DeToro do this, bring his cameras in. Why was a head turned to that? Why did he get away with it? And now we have no clue what’s out there with our kids,” she said.
She is also questioning whether law enforcement can fully account for all the footage.
“Will they even be able to figure it out? Predator behavior goes far. It’s deep. It’s disgusting. We don’t know if this was put on the dark web, the footage of our children, and sold,” Ouellette said.
School board split on how to investigate
During Thursday’s meeting, District 4 Board Member Michele Hanson pushed for an outside party to work alongside the district’s internal investigation.
“It sits wrong sometimes when we investigate ourselves,” Hanson said. “It is my belief, and it does not cost that much, to have someone from the outside looking in also.”
Board Chair Erin Skipper chose a different path.
“We want an internal investigation. We want accountability, and I promise you there will be accountability,” Skipper said.
Skipper also asked Superintendent David Broskie to bring back an update on accountability factors at the next school board meeting.
For Ouellette, promises are not enough. She is calling for 100 percent transparency — and says legal action is on the table.
“Whatever it takes — if that’s what it takes to hold them accountable, then fine,” she said.
The situation has shaken her confidence as a parent. Her son Hunter is 13.
“I’m supposed to be at this age of life allowing him to gain independence. How can I do that now? I am scared,” Ouellette said.
News4JAX contacted the Clay County School District communications office for comment on parents’ continuing concerns following Thursday’s board meeting. The district did not respond before deadline.