Former babysitter, afterschool program director pleads guilty to child sexual exploitation charges

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) – A North Carolina man who worked as a private babysitter has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes committed in 2023, according to authorities.

According to officials, Elijah Jacob Donato pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor on Nov. 13.

In September 2023, prosecutors told a judge in court that the victim’s parents found disturbing images on their Nest camera after they hired Donato to babysit.

While babysitting, Donato encouraged the children to take photos of their genitals using his phone, and a digital analysis of the phone found the photos in a hidden photo on his phone titled “my eyes only,” the district attorney said.

After his arrest, the Carolina Beach Police Department said Donato had worked as a private babysitter for families in the county. Investigators found he was employed as the YMCA Site Coordinator for the Afterschool Care program at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.

“This defendant preyed on young children for his own gratification,” District Attorney Jason W. Smith said. “We are grateful that the parents trusted their instincts and promptly alerted this abuse to authorities as soon as they became aware of it. Their swift action and the sound investigation by the Carolina Beach Police Department undoubtedly prevented the abuse of other children in our community.”

The district attorney reported Donato was sentenced to 144 to 294 months in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years after he is released.

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