A University of North Carolina-Wilmington student was arrested this week on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and taking indecent liberties with children.

The incident involved a child Elijah Jacob Donato, 21, was babysitting, the Carolina Beach Police Department said. Donato worked as a private babysitter and was also employed as the site coordinator for the YMCA afterschool program at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.

The Southeastern North Carolina YMCA told The Seahawk that it fired Donato after his arrest.

“We have strong policies in place regarding the protection of minors, however, we are conducting our own internal investigation out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the continued safety and well-being of those minors who interact with our YMCA,” the organization said. “We also stand ready to fully cooperate with the authorities with respect to the criminal charges pending against Donato.”

The Seahawk, the UNCW student newspaper, said that Donato is a junior at the school majoring in tourism, recreation, and sport.

He is being held at the New Hanover County jail on a $500,000 bond.

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[Featured image: Elijah Jacob Donato/New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office]