GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Artavis Deontre Clark, 27, is facing eight counts of sexual battery involving a 14-year-old girl who told investigators he allegedly took her to an abandoned hotel and had sex with her nearly every day during an 11-day period in June.
The girl reported the allegations on September 9. She said she met Clark at the downtown Gainesville library around June 18 and initially told him she was 19 and homeless. According to her account, Clark invited her to stay with him at an abandoned hotel believed to be the former Wyndham Garden Hotel at 2900 SW 13th Street.
She said the two later went to a gym at a nearby apartment complex. While there, she told Clark that she was actually 14, but he allegedly still permitted her to return with him to the hotel.
The girl told investigators that the hotel had no electricity and that she was overheated when they returned. She said Clark told her she could remove her clothing, then undressed himself, kissed her and engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
She said she stayed with Clark for about 10 days and that they had sex each day except three. During that time, she said, she fell in love with him. The pair allegedly discussed moving to Albany, New York, selected an apartment and reviewed bus tickets. She also said they talked about changing her name to avoid detection and wanted to have a child, but planned to wait until she turned 18 because they believed a hospital would otherwise notify law enforcement.
According to the victim, Clark generally left the hotel only to donate plasma or visit a laundromat. She said he had “fixed up” the room and kept a grill inside for cooking. He also taught her how to prepare rice on the grill, she told authorities.
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Clark was arrested July 1 after an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a trespassing complaint at Fresh Laundry and Cafe, located at 3830 SW 13th Street. The deputy said Clark became “inexplicably and increasingly angry” and yelled after being told that laundromat employees wanted him removed. Clark allegedly took a bladed stance and clenched his fist while facing the deputy, leading to an arrest on suspicion of assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was also charged with resisting an officer without violence after allegedly continuing to pull away from the deputy. Judge Joy Danne released him on his own recognizance.
At approximately 10:46 p.m. September 23, Gainesville Police Department and University of Florida Police Department officers were patrolling SW 13th Street near the edge of campus when they saw Clark cross against a “do not cross” sign. During the pedestrian stop, he reportedly identified himself as “Art Clark” and allegedly refused to provide his date of birth, despite being warned that he could be arrested. After repeatedly declining to give the information, Clark was arrested on suspicion of providing false identification information to a law enforcement officer. He has remained in the Alachua County Jail on $4,000 bail.
A Gainesville police officer later interviewed Clark at the jail. After being read his Miranda rights, Clark confirmed many details of the girl’s account, according to the report. He said he met her at the library and that she told him she was 19 and homeless, prompting him to invite her to stay at the abandoned hotel. He acknowledged teaching her to cook rice on the grill and buying her clothing to “help her not look homeless.” He also said he left the hotel to donate plasma and visit the laundromat, and confirmed that they had discussed moving to Albany. The officer said Clark provided lengthy, detailed responses until he was asked whether he had sex with the girl. Clark then reportedly looked down at the table and answered, “No.” The officer said Clark put his head on the table afterward and began giving brief responses. Clark denied any sexual contact with the victim but otherwise confirmed the remaining details of her account.
Clark now faces eight counts of sexual battery involving a victim between the ages of 12 and 18, in addition to the earlier charges of providing false identification information and resisting an officer without violence. The assault charge involving the officer was dropped. Clark has no prior criminal convictions. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail while the court considers a motion by the State Attorney’s Office to keep him jailed without bail through trial. If the motion is denied, bail will be determined at that hearing.