ALGONQUIN -- Village Clerk and local clown Jerry Kautz said he is “living in a nightmare” after a Springfield man who uses the same clown handle was charged Tuesday with possessing child pornography and traveling overseas to have sex with a minor.
“I’m heartsick,” Kautz said Thursday after getting a threatening e-mail from someone who mistook his “Klutzo” clown character for that of the accused man, Amon Paul Carlock.
“There is nothing more slimy than for someone to be an entertainer and take advantage of children,” Kautz said. “I hope he gets everything he has coming to him.”
The accused clown, Carlock, 57, worked as a minister, police officer, magician and clown before his arrest Tuesday following a trip to the Philippines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. A federal search warrant executed Sept. 28 at Carlock's Springfield residence turned up compact discs which contained movies depicting child pornography, according to authorities. Carlock performed under the names “Klutzo the Clown” and “Professor Paul the Magician.”
Back in Algonquin, Kautz has been using the name Klutzo since the early 1980s. As Klutzo, Kautz has volunteered at area hospitals and nursing homes, as well as marching in parades.
“The name is synonymous with me here in Algonquin,” Kautz said.
But he now feels the name Klutzo has been sullied. He said he wants area families to know that the clown they are familiar with from community events is not the one facing federal charges.
“People in town who know me, know it’s not me,” he said. “The thing that hurts me the most is I won’t be able to do Klutzo again.”
Kautz said he has taken down his Web site, klutzo.com, to prevent any more hate e-mail from being sent to him.
“Everyone who is an honest clown is just heartbroken about this,” he said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Town:Algonquin
