F
fx
Guest
Porn suspect was always close to kids
BY SARAH ANTONACCI
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Published Thursday, October 11, 2007
http://www.lincolncourier.com/story.asp?SID=17957&SEC=8
SPRINGFIELD - One thing appears certain. Wherever A. Paul Carlock Jr.
was, children were not far away.
Newspaper and court records researched Wednesday, along with interviews
of parents and business owners, indicate that, over a period of more
than 30 years, Carlock almost always could be found working or
volunteering in some way with children.
Carlock, 57, whose myriad jobs include performing as "Klutzo" the clown,
was charged in federal court Tuesday with possessing child pornography
and traveling to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.
When hired as a Springfield police officer in 1973, Carlock said he
previously had been employed by the state of Illinois at DuPage Boys
School in Naperville.
For four of his years as a Springfield officer, he served as a youth
division detective. He was a minister at the Rosewood Heights Nazarene
Church in East Alton, where a former church member said Carlock and his
wife at the time would invite over kids to watch movies and eat popcorn.
Carlock worked for four years for the Illinois Department of Public
Health's Child Health Division. He served as the Grandview Police
Department's certified juvenile officer. He volunteered with Big
Brother/Big Sister for a short time. He and his most recent wife
performed as the clowns "Klutzo" and "Smilee" for more than 10 years,
entertaining at children's events and school programs. He was a marriage
and family counselor, too.
And, it appears, he worked at at least two local day care facilities,
according to parents who called The State Journal-Register. Owners of
those businesses confirmed his employment.
Until this week, however, Carlock had never been arrested or charged
with any crime involving a child.
As Carlock was being released from a psychiatric facility Tuesday,
federal authorities arrested him on charges he had gone to the
Philippines to photograph naked boys and that he sexually abused three
boys there.
Immigration and homeland security officials allegedly found pornographic
photos on his digital camera and laptop computer as he returned to the
United States in June.
Carlock denied doing anything wrong. He told investigators he had
intended to edit out the questionable pictures but hadn't gotten around
to it yet.
Last month, though, Filipino authorities interviewed some of the boys in
the pictures, and three said they had awakened to find Carlock fondling
them in their sleep, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
The news of the arrest shocked many people in Springfield, including at
least one mother whose children used to attend the Bright Beginnings day
care in Chatham.
"There are going to be a lot of parents who are concerned," said the
woman, who asked that she not be identified.
She said she doesn't blame Bright Beginnings for hiring Carlock, because
he had what appeared to be a stellar background with kids.
"It's very strange, but he said he was interested in taking videos and
photos of some of the kids, and he'd ask their parents if he could take
videos of them at a playground and he'd put it to music. He'd play them
at the day care," she said. "I never saw one of a girl, only boys."
The woman acknowledged that she now is replaying her memories of Carlock
to see if anything stood out about him.
The woman said Carlock and his wife, who filed for divorce last week,
citing "extreme and repeated mental cruelty," performed as clowns a
couple of times at the day care.
"It all seemed innocent enough," she said. "I do know there were a
couple of questions about him holding boys in his lap, and parents felt
it was inappropriate. I just wonder now about my kids."
Teresa Vance, owner of the day care, said Carlock worked there for six
months on a part-time basis. He worked with 4-year-old children, she said.
"We have a screening process," she said. "It's a three-part background
check - fingerprinting, sent through state police and through (the
Department of Children and Family Services). His background check was
good. I pulled it today. His references were great."
Vance said she was shocked to learn of the allegations.
"He seemed like a really nice guy. He was great with the kids," she
said. "My child was in his classroom, and it's not been easy."
Amy Pruitt-Sidener, owner of the Lakeshore Learning Center, said Carlock
also worked at her day care for a "couple of months" last year.
"What I can tell you is that he had no unsupervised contact with
children, and we're pretty confident that nothing inappropriate occurred
at our facility," she said. "He was supervised when he was here. We have
at least two teachers in each room."
Court records indicate Carlock was married to a woman named Linda before
his most recent marriage. The two divorced in 1984 after an incident
that apparently forced Carlock to give up his job as pastor at the East
Alton church.
After the couple split, records indicate, Carlock took their son with
him and left their daughter with her mother. Eventually, the mother took
custody of both children. Carlock visited twice a month and had more
liberal visitation over the summer.
In 1988, he married Mary Andreatta. She filed for divorce Oct. 4.
It was with Mary, and on his own, that he practiced clowning. He is
mentioned as one of the clowns who works with Lincoln's Laffers, an area
clown group, though the president of that organization, Amy McKinney,
said he hadn't worked with the Carlocks in the past two years.
She said she wouldn't talk about Carlock because the organization
believes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
However, McKinney said, anytime someone in a profession is accused of
something, it can be detrimental to everyone involved.
"People have a higher expectation of some professions - doctors, clergy
and people who work with children - that those people will live by a
higher standard, and I believe that's something we should strive to do,"
she said.
The vast majority of clowns work hard to perfect their art and present a
positive image, she added.
"Our primary goal is to cheer people up," she said. "I think when
there's an allegation, whether true or not true, the allegation of
wrongdoing affects everyone.
"We're just looking at an allegation now, and it has a negative impact.
The public is not always as forgiving as we'd like them to be."
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
Perpetrators of Maltreatment
Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5
Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
BY SARAH ANTONACCI
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Published Thursday, October 11, 2007
http://www.lincolncourier.com/story.asp?SID=17957&SEC=8
SPRINGFIELD - One thing appears certain. Wherever A. Paul Carlock Jr.
was, children were not far away.
Newspaper and court records researched Wednesday, along with interviews
of parents and business owners, indicate that, over a period of more
than 30 years, Carlock almost always could be found working or
volunteering in some way with children.
Carlock, 57, whose myriad jobs include performing as "Klutzo" the clown,
was charged in federal court Tuesday with possessing child pornography
and traveling to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.
When hired as a Springfield police officer in 1973, Carlock said he
previously had been employed by the state of Illinois at DuPage Boys
School in Naperville.
For four of his years as a Springfield officer, he served as a youth
division detective. He was a minister at the Rosewood Heights Nazarene
Church in East Alton, where a former church member said Carlock and his
wife at the time would invite over kids to watch movies and eat popcorn.
Carlock worked for four years for the Illinois Department of Public
Health's Child Health Division. He served as the Grandview Police
Department's certified juvenile officer. He volunteered with Big
Brother/Big Sister for a short time. He and his most recent wife
performed as the clowns "Klutzo" and "Smilee" for more than 10 years,
entertaining at children's events and school programs. He was a marriage
and family counselor, too.
And, it appears, he worked at at least two local day care facilities,
according to parents who called The State Journal-Register. Owners of
those businesses confirmed his employment.
Until this week, however, Carlock had never been arrested or charged
with any crime involving a child.
As Carlock was being released from a psychiatric facility Tuesday,
federal authorities arrested him on charges he had gone to the
Philippines to photograph naked boys and that he sexually abused three
boys there.
Immigration and homeland security officials allegedly found pornographic
photos on his digital camera and laptop computer as he returned to the
United States in June.
Carlock denied doing anything wrong. He told investigators he had
intended to edit out the questionable pictures but hadn't gotten around
to it yet.
Last month, though, Filipino authorities interviewed some of the boys in
the pictures, and three said they had awakened to find Carlock fondling
them in their sleep, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
The news of the arrest shocked many people in Springfield, including at
least one mother whose children used to attend the Bright Beginnings day
care in Chatham.
"There are going to be a lot of parents who are concerned," said the
woman, who asked that she not be identified.
She said she doesn't blame Bright Beginnings for hiring Carlock, because
he had what appeared to be a stellar background with kids.
"It's very strange, but he said he was interested in taking videos and
photos of some of the kids, and he'd ask their parents if he could take
videos of them at a playground and he'd put it to music. He'd play them
at the day care," she said. "I never saw one of a girl, only boys."
The woman acknowledged that she now is replaying her memories of Carlock
to see if anything stood out about him.
The woman said Carlock and his wife, who filed for divorce last week,
citing "extreme and repeated mental cruelty," performed as clowns a
couple of times at the day care.
"It all seemed innocent enough," she said. "I do know there were a
couple of questions about him holding boys in his lap, and parents felt
it was inappropriate. I just wonder now about my kids."
Teresa Vance, owner of the day care, said Carlock worked there for six
months on a part-time basis. He worked with 4-year-old children, she said.
"We have a screening process," she said. "It's a three-part background
check - fingerprinting, sent through state police and through (the
Department of Children and Family Services). His background check was
good. I pulled it today. His references were great."
Vance said she was shocked to learn of the allegations.
"He seemed like a really nice guy. He was great with the kids," she
said. "My child was in his classroom, and it's not been easy."
Amy Pruitt-Sidener, owner of the Lakeshore Learning Center, said Carlock
also worked at her day care for a "couple of months" last year.
"What I can tell you is that he had no unsupervised contact with
children, and we're pretty confident that nothing inappropriate occurred
at our facility," she said. "He was supervised when he was here. We have
at least two teachers in each room."
Court records indicate Carlock was married to a woman named Linda before
his most recent marriage. The two divorced in 1984 after an incident
that apparently forced Carlock to give up his job as pastor at the East
Alton church.
After the couple split, records indicate, Carlock took their son with
him and left their daughter with her mother. Eventually, the mother took
custody of both children. Carlock visited twice a month and had more
liberal visitation over the summer.
In 1988, he married Mary Andreatta. She filed for divorce Oct. 4.
It was with Mary, and on his own, that he practiced clowning. He is
mentioned as one of the clowns who works with Lincoln's Laffers, an area
clown group, though the president of that organization, Amy McKinney,
said he hadn't worked with the Carlocks in the past two years.
She said she wouldn't talk about Carlock because the organization
believes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
However, McKinney said, anytime someone in a profession is accused of
something, it can be detrimental to everyone involved.
"People have a higher expectation of some professions - doctors, clergy
and people who work with children - that those people will live by a
higher standard, and I believe that's something we should strive to do,"
she said.
The vast majority of clowns work hard to perfect their art and present a
positive image, she added.
"Our primary goal is to cheer people up," she said. "I think when
there's an allegation, whether true or not true, the allegation of
wrongdoing affects everyone.
"We're just looking at an allegation now, and it has a negative impact.
The public is not always as forgiving as we'd like them to be."
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
Perpetrators of Maltreatment
Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5
Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
