A man accused of creating and sharing child pornography is on the run — and he could be more than 6,000 miles from home.



Jason Edward Clemmer was expected to go on trial Tuesday on more than 25 exploitation of a minor charges.

But Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell says that, rather than appear in court, Clemmer left for Asia. Clemmer's passport was used Aug. 3 to board a flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Seoul, South Korea, according to Bell.

Bell was not aware of anyone Clemmer may know in the east Asian nation.

'Worst of the worst'

Clemmer, 41, was arrested in October 2014 after being identified as a suspect by Mount Holly and Gastonia police who were working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Court documents say Clemmer shared photos online that showed girls between ages 4 and 8 having sex with adult men.

Clemmer was downloading child pornography when officers executed search warrants, prosecutor Debbie Gulledge said in previous court appearance.

The computer contained lengthy, graphic videos, which included toddlers in sexual situations, Gulledge told the judge.

“This is the worst of the worst, what this man was in possession of,” she said.

Clemmer is also accused of either taking pornographic pictures of a 15-year-old girl or persuading her to do so and share them with him.

Guilty plea retracted

Clemmer accepted a plea offer in May 2015 that carried a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison, but there was a pause in the process.

The Belmont man was given a prayer for judgment in sentencing. Essentially, he was allowed to stay in Gaston County Jail to settle his affairs before his sentence was activated.

Two months passed, and Clemmer changed his mind. He retracted the guilty plea at his sentencing hearing.

Gulledge, in turn, rescinded her offer, and the judge assigned a $150,000 bond.

$1 million bond

Clemmer's family worked with a bail bondsman to post bail in November, and he was released.

When Clemmer failed to show up for court Tuesday, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. If Clemmer is found, he will be held on a $1 million bond, according to the judge's order.

Gulledge said she isn't sure when the matter will be added back onto the court docket.

"I can't try him until I've got him," she said.

Clemmer has a short conviction record in North Carolina. In 1997, he was convicted of assault on a child and assault on a female, for which he was given probation.

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and Twitter.com/GazetteDiane.