Crime & Safety
Trial of Former Macomb Dojo Owner Accused of Oral Sex with a Minor to Continue Friday
A jury will continue its deliberations in the trial of Joby Clark, a 39-year-old man accused of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, on Friday in Macomb County Circuit Court.
A jury is expected to continue its deliberations Friday in the case of a 39-year-old man accused of engaging in sexual activity with a minor while the girl was a student at the Macomb Township karate school he co-owned.
Joby Clark faces three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, stemming from accusations that he engaged in oral sex with a minor, according to court records.
The victim, a former student at Butoku Karate Dojo at 21 Mile and Garfield, was only 14 and 15 years old when the alleged conduct took place – twice in 2009 and once in 2010 inside the school, The Macomb Daily reports.
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Clark denied the allegations when he took the stand, while his attorney, Patrick McQueeney, told the jury that the story was made up by the victim, according to The Macomb Daily.
The owner of Butoku Karate Dojo dissolved his partnership with Clark in January 2011.
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The charges facing Clark are punishable by up to life in prison.
The jury will continue deliberating Friday, Nov. 9, at 9:30 a.m. in Macomb County Circuit Court.
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