Convicted sex offender faces more charges after working around children

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — WINK Investigates has uncovered a disturbing breakdown in public safety protocols after a convicted sex offender successfully secured multiple jobs working in close proximity to children, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Douglas Ehmke, a registered sex offender for nearly 15 years, is back behind bars facing new felony charges. Investigators say Ehmke intentionally bypassed state reporting requirements to embed himself in environments frequented by families and young children.

A Pattern of Proximity

The latest developments reveal that Ehmke’s reach extended beyond a previously reported stint in youth sports.

New court documents obtained by WINK Investigates show the Lee County Sheriff’s Office discovered Ehmke was employed at Castle Golf, a popular miniature golf course in Lee County, early last year.

According to detectives, the course manager confirmed Ehmke’s duties included distributing putters and collecting trash—tasks that placed him in regular, direct contact with children, according to investigators.

In a statement to WINK News, Castle Golf acknowledged the lapse:

“Mr. Ehmke was hired for a part-time, five-week role more than a year ago and has not been affiliated with our organization since that time. Following a review of this matter, we determined that our standard hiring protocols were not fully followed for that short-term position. We have since taken steps to reinforce our processes to ensure that all hires — regardless of duration — undergo appropriate screening. The safety, well-being and trust of our customers remain our highest priority.” 

This discovery follows a prior investigation into Ehmke’s four-month tenure with i9 Sports, where he served as an umpire for children as young as three years old at games held at Pelican Elementary School in Cape Coral. The games were after regular school hours. 

WINK Investigates reached out to Lee County Schools about the situation and how it handles vetting third-party staff, a spokesperson said: 

“Facility rentals are managed through Facilitron under School Board Policy 7510.

As for background checks, our responsibility is to screen the people who are on campus on school days from 30 minutes before the first bell until 30 minutes after dismissal.”

When confronted by detectives regarding his failure to report these jobs to the state registry, Ehmke was reportedly blunt. According to the arrest report, he admitted he withheld the information because he knew law enforcement would notify his employers, resulting in his immediate termination.

In addition to the employment violations, Ehmke faces felony counts for failing to report:

• Multiple undisclosed email addresses
• Unreported social media accounts

A Plea for Leniency

Currently held in the Lee County Jail without bond, Ehmke recently sent a handwritten letter to Judge Branning. In the letter, he pleaded for leniency, citing a diagnosis of schizophrenia and stating, "I feel jail or prison would mess me up more." He further claimed he was attempting to start a dog-walking business to stay "focused on my future."

However, child advocates say the system's failure to flag Ehmke sooner is a wake-up call for the community.

"Even if they’re volunteers, [organizations] should be doing background checks," said Milena Weston, Director of Community Outreach at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida. She urged parents to watch for "red flag behaviors" and adults who attempt to cross established boundaries.

How to Protect Your Family

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) emphasizes that while no system is foolproof, their searchable database is a vital public tool.

Resource	Purpose
FDLE Registry	Publicly searchable database of all registered sex offenders/predators.
Background checks	Employers and sports leagues are encouraged to run independent screenings.
Community Vigilance	Report any suspicious boundary-crossing to local law enforcement.

"Keeping our children safe is our number one priority in Florida," said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson. "Tracking sex offenders and registrants is a vital mission."

Douglas Ehmke is scheduled to return to court in late May.