Published on June 26, 2026 at 4:05 pm
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Clay County parents took their concerns to the School Board after a volunteer wrestling coach at Wilkinson Junior High School was arrested as part of an undercover sting targeting men accused of trying to solicit minors online.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested Mikal DeToro on April 30 as part of an operation called “Operation Checkmate.” The Sheriff’s Office said the operation resulted in the arrests of more than two dozen men accused of attempting to solicit minors online.
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Parents at Wilkinson Junior High said they were not notified between the time of DeToro’s arrest and the time of the public announcement. Court records show DeToro has a criminal history involving incidents with minors.
Cheyenne Evans, whose son wrestled at Wilkinson Junior High while DeToro served as a volunteer coach, said the news hit close to home.
“When it’s that close to home, and your baby was taught by him and he has touched him before, it just — it’s infuriating,” Evans said. “You almost feel like you let your kids down when you trusted the school with them.”
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After DeToro’s arrest became public, Evans said her son told her that DeToro would request skin checks on wrestlers — a practice she said is typically reserved for referees at wrestling matches, not coaches.
“You don’t hear of a coach making a wrestler go down to their underwear in a closet and put their arms out by themselves to do a skin check,” Evans said. “That’s inappropriate.”
Evans said her son always refused.
Board Chair Erin Skipper and other board members addressed the concerns during a public meeting, though they said the continuing investigation limited what they could discuss. An upset mother in the audience called out board members during the exchange: “You let a predator around our children! This is your warning.”
District 5 board bember Ashley Gilhousen said the district expects full accountability.
“We set policy, and we expect the employees in the district to abide by the policies that we set,” Gilhousen said. “I support the complete and thorough investigation and expect that we will have accountability for anybody at fault in failing to protect children in this district.”
Another parent, Tawnya Darnell, whose son also wrestled under DeToro, said her concern centers on how the volunteer screening process failed.
“It’s more of a concern of how the system, the school’s protocol as far as volunteers and coaches and those types of things — how someone like that fell through the cracks,” Darnell said. “And just hoping that moving forward they can rectify that.”
Skipper, the board chair, declined a request for an on-camera interview and referred News4Jax to the following statement posted on her Facebook page:
The safety and well being of our students will always remain the highest priority of Clay County District Schools. As Chairman of the School Board, and more importantly as a Mother, I have zero tolerance for individuals who seek to harm, exploit, groom, or negatively influence children in any way.
At this time, there is an ongoing investigation regarding recent allegations. Because of the active nature of the investigation, it is important that due process is respected and that the appropriate authorities are allowed to complete their work. While I cannot comment on specific details, I want our families, staff, and community to know that these matters are taken with the utmost seriousness.
Over the years, I have strongly advocated for policies that prioritize student safety, accountability, and transparency. Those policies are in place to ensure concerns are reported appropriately, investigated thoroughly, and addressed in accordance with both Board policy and Florida law.
As this matter moves forward, the School Board will review the procedures and actions implemented by the superintendent at both the district and school levels to ensure they fully align with Board policy, legal requirements, and the high standards our community expects. We will work closely with Superintendent David Broskie and district leadership to evaluate every aspect of the process and identify if there are any areas where improvements might be necessary.
The adults entrusted to work with our children should be protecting, mentoring, and supporting them not harming them. Every student deserves a safe learning environment where they can grow, learn, and succeed without fear.
The Board and Superintendent will continue ongoing discussions to ensure every available resource is utilized, every concern is taken seriously, and every appropriate measure is taken to protect our students. My commitment is clear: student safety comes first, and we will remain vigilant in fulfilling that responsibility.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
