NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A junior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is behind bars after Carolina Beach Police Department made an arrest Thursday afternoon.
Law enforcement charged 21-year-old Elijah Jacob Donato with two counts of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of taking indecent liberties with children.
Investigators found evidence that linked Donato to the sexual exploitation of two young children he babysat on the island earlier in the week, the Carolina Beach Police Department reported. According to the arrest warrants, the offense date took place Sept. 23.
Donato made his first appearance in court Friday, where prosecutors revealed the victim’s parents located disturbing images on a Nest camera while Donato was babysitting, according to WECT. They claimed he coerced the children to produce explicit images.
CBPD also issued search warrants for Donato’s Wilmington residence and seized more items of evidence. The investigation remains ongoing, though Donato was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28.
He has been issued a $500,000 secured bond and remains at the New Hanover County jail. If he makes his bond, he will be under house arrest.
Donato listed on his LinkedIn page he was studying to receive his B.A. in kindergarten/pre-school education and teaching; however, UNCW officials confirmed he was majoring in tourism, recreation and sport.
According to CBPD, Donato offered private babysitting services for New Hanover families and was employed as a YMCA site coordinator for the afterschool care program at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.
“Student safety is the biggest priority for New Hanover County Schools. While this individual was not an NHCS employee and this incident did not happen at one of our sites, we take this matter seriously, and we are working with law enforcement and the YMCA as they investigate,” NHCS spokesperson Russell Clark wrote to Port City Daily.
An email from YMCA that went out to parents Friday afternoon noted Donato also filled in at day camps at the YMCA’s midtown location over the summer.
In a released statement to media and parents, YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina touted safety as a top priority. It said the alleged actions — of which “deeply disturbed and saddened” the team — did not take place in connection with any YMCA event or activity, nor did they transpire on YMCA property.
“Moreover, we do not have any reports or indications that Donato engaged in any inappropriate interactions or behavior connected with our YMCA,” YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina vice president of development Sarah Gibbs wrote in a release. “Nonetheless, we take these allegations extremely seriously.”
Shortly after learning of Donato’s arrest, YMCA terminated his employment, effective Thursday.
“We have strong policies in place regarding the protection of minors, however, we are conducting our own internal investigation out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the continued safety and well-being of those minors who interact with our YMCA,” Gibbs wrote in the release. “We also stand ready to fully cooperate with the authorities with respect to the criminal charges pending against Donato.”
She added prior to working at the YMCA, all employees must pass a background and reference checks, and complete training on preventing, recognizing, and responding to abuse. The organization also checks all members and staff against the National Sex Offender Registry.
Employees are prohibited from being alone with a child where they cannot be observed by others.
Donato is scheduled for his next court appearance on Oct. 12.
Indecent liberties with a child is a Class F felony, punishable by up to 59 months in prison. First degree sex exploitation of a minor is a Class C felony in North Carolina and can come with 51 to 64 months served for first-time offenders.
Tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
