A Buena Vista man entered a plea of no contest to one misdemeanor count of sexual battery in Buena Vista Circuit Court last month as part of a plea agreement.
Michael Lee Clark, 60, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with two felonies: one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties against a minor child while serving in a custodial role between April 1 and Sept. 15, 2024. He was indicted on both charges by a grand jury in September 2025.
He was scheduled to stand trial March 19, but a plea agreement was reached in which the indecent liberty charge would be dismissed and the aggravated sexual battery would be reduced to a misdemeanor. Clark was arraigned on the amended charge and entered a plea of no contest.
Per the plea agreement, Clark was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all of which was suspended. He was placed on 12 months of probation and is to have no contact with the victim and remain on good behavior. Prior to the sentencing, Buena Vista Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua Elrod noted that the victim had been consulted about the agreement and agreed to it.
