Founder of Sanford special needs program in custody over sexual abuse allegations
By Sasha Teman Orlando
UPDATED 7:50 AM ET Sep. 06, 2024 PUBLISHED 11:48 PM ET Sep. 05, 2024
SANFORD, Fla. —
On Wednesday, the founder of a Sanford organization that works with people with special needs was arrested.
James “Jamie” Bernard Grover of the Special Needs Advocacy Program (SNAP) is accused of sexual abuse of a minor, and investigators from the FBI say they believe there could be more victims.
The 62-year-old Volusia County man also worked as a group director for Autism on the Seas, an international organization that coordinates cruise vacations for adults and families with special needs. That organization said Grover has not cruised with them since 2013.
What You Need To Know
The founder of an organization designed to help children and families with special needs, James “Jamie” Grover, is in custody since Wednesday on charges of sexually abusing multiple young boys
According to FBI Tampa’s investigation, Grover ran the Special Needs Advocacy Program (SNAP) at Seminole Towne Center Mall in Sanford
The mother of a victim filed a complaint to the FBI in July, after filing an initial report to the Sanford Police Department
According to FBI investigators, Grover is accused of sexually abusing multiple young boys, including one with special needs
On July 25, FBI Tampa received an online complaint from one of the alleged victim’s mothers, accusing Grover of committing “a sexual act” on her son aboard a Carnival cruise ship in May 2023.
In the complaint made to the FBI, Grover is accused of committing sexual acts with several victims from 2010 until this year.
Investigators claim a second mother came forward with similar sexual abuse allegations against Grover shortly after and reported the incident to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in June.
According to that criminal claimant report, this second victim met Grover while volunteering at the SNAP organization and claimed to have also been sexually assaulted on a cruise back in 2022 when he was a minor.
The criminal claimant report also included a detailed account from an interview conducted by the Sanford Police Department and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office with Grover, who denied touching the victim in any sexual manner.
However, he did admit that he spoke to one of the alleged victims about masturbation once, which he said was educational, according to the criminal claimant report.
Legal expert David Haas said he’s seen his share of sexual abuse cases in his day, but nothing that compares to a case like this.
“To set up a nonprofit to potentially lure these kinds of younger kids in is certainly different, and what sets this case apart, depending on if the allegations can prove obviously,” Haas said.
The FBI has opened a tip line, as agents are looking to speak with any other potential victims.
Potential victims are encouraged to fill out an online form to provide more information to help in the investigation,
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