Former Iowa City counselor found guilty of abusing child

A Johnson County jury found former elementary guidance counselor Donald Clark guilty of sexually abusing a fifth grade student during the 2003-04 school year.

Clark faces up to 25 years in prison for second-degree sexual abuse on a child under the age of 12.

The victim, now 16, claimed Clark, 41, had touched and rubbed him during individual counseling sessions in Clark's office.

Clark took the stand in his own defense to deny the allegations made by the boy.

For the jury, it came down to one question -- did they believe Clark or his young victim? It took 6 1/2 hours to decide the young man was telling the truth.

Clark worked at the school for seven years and retired in 2008.

The victim saw Clark about once a week during the fifth grade to help him adjust to Lemme. A shy, withdrawn student, he had moved to Lemme during the fourth grade. The move was the result of the boy's lack of motivation and poor grades.

His parents testified that after a year at Lemme their son was no longer just shy and withdrawn, but increasingly angry and violent.

They said he cut himself, attempted suicide and abused drugs and alcohol. They blame Clark for the changes in their son's behavior.

After repeated attempts to help their son, they sent him to Midwest Academy, a highly structured residential facility in Keokuk.

It was there, shortly after his arrival, that he told of the abuse at the hands of his former guidance counselor.

Clark said he believed the boy fabricated the abuse because he was unhappy at Midwest Academy and wanted to come home.

Clark's  mother could be heard quietly sobbing as her son was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

-- Elizabeth Kutter, news c0rrespondent

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