Clay County District Schools cited two Florida statutes that do not provide a valid public records exemption to justify withholding an investigation report. The probe examined how a volunteer wrestling coach arrested in a child predator sting gained access to students without a background check.

The district told Clay News & Views (CN&V) on Sept. 21 that its legal team determined the report is exempt under "Florida Statutes 119.071(d)1 and 119.07(3)(d)." Neither citation identifies a valid exemption under Florida's public records law, as first reported by CN&V.

The first citation is missing a subsection number required to identify a specific exemption. The closest match, section 119.071(1)(d)1, covers attorney work product prepared for litigation. The second, section 119.07(3)(d), governs where members of the public may photograph records, not which records may be withheld. Section 119.07 establishes the general right to inspect public records; Florida's substantive exemptions are in a different section.

Coach lacked background check while working with students

The investigation concerns Mikal Detoro, 44, arrested April 30 by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office as part of "Operation Checkmate," an undercover sting targeting men accused of soliciting minors online. At the time, Detoro was a volunteer wrestling coach at Wilkinson Junior High School.

He did not have a completed Level 2 background check, which requires fingerprint-based state and national screening through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. The district classified him as a Level 1 volunteer, a status that requires constant supervision by a certified employee.

Detoro also worked at Iron Forge Wrestling Academy, a program run by his brother Mark Detoro and Mark's wife, Whitni Detoro, inside Ridgeview High School's gym in Orange Park. Mark Detoro is the head wrestling coach at Ridgeview.

District staff presented findings before outside review concluded

Superintendent David Broskie told the school board on Sept. 3 that a third-party investigator from Tallahassee had conducted an independent review and recommended nine policy changes.

"Their recommendation was really nine things that have already been instituted," Broskie said.

But district safety director Matt Boyack had already presented those same nine recommendations at a July 23 board workshop, according to CN&V's review of meeting records. Broskie did not announce the outside investigation until the Aug. 6 board meeting.

The recommendations include expanding Level 2 background checks, raising standards for Level 1 volunteers, replacing Board Policy 9200 and creating a tracking portal. Broskie did not name the outside investigator or the law firm. He did not explain how Detoro volunteered without a completed background check or identify who was disciplined.

Parent says son was left alone with coach

Parent Ginger Phillips told Action News Jax in June that her son was left alone with Detoro at Iron Forge, despite the district's supervision policy. The district has said its volunteer rules apply only to district-sponsored programs and that outside organizations using school facilities are responsible for their own staff, WOKV reported.

Whether the new policies cover Iron Forge is one of several questions the district has not answered. CN&V sent written questions to Broskie on Sept. 21, with a Sept. 24 deadline. The district had not responded as of Sept. 26.

At a June board meeting, weeks after Detoro's arrest, District 5 board member Ashley Gilhousen said she expected "accountability for anybody at fault in failing to protect children in this district," as Jax Today reported.

CN&V has asked the district to provide a complete and accurate statutory citation, as Florida law requires. The district has not done so.