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Founder of Florida nonprofit for children with disabilities accused of decade-long sexual abuse

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Published  September 6, 2024 10:59am EDT
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 35 Orlando

Man accused of sexually abusing children

A man who is the founder of child advocacy program is accused of sexually abusing children.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Content warning: Some of the details below might be disturbing to readers. Discretion is advised. 

The founder of a nonprofit that advocates for children with disabilities was arrested by the FBI on Wednesday and charged with sexually abusing minors, according to officials. 

James "Jamie" Grover founded the Special Needs Advocacy Program (SNAP), which services families and individuals with disabilities in the Central Florida area. The 62-year-old man was arrested after a search of his home in Deltona and his workplace at the Seminole Town Center Mall in Sanford, the FBI's Tampa Field Office announced Thursday. 

Grover is currently in custody at the Seminole County Jail and has a detention hearing set for Sept. 11. 

Nonprofit founder accused of sexually abusing minors

The founder of a nonprofit that advocates for children with disabilities was arrested by the FBI on Wednesday and charged with sexually abusing minors, according to officials.

"The FBI believes Grover targeted young boys between the timeframe of 2010 to the present while working at SNAP and while serving as Group Director of Autism on the Seas, an international organization that developed cruise vacations for adults and families living with special needs," the FBI said. 

FOX 35 obtained a copy of the federal complaint filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against Grover on Friday. Three victims, who were minors at the start of Grover's alleged sexual abuse, came forward in the complaint. All three children volunteered for SNAP at one point. 

James Grover (Source: Seminole County Sheriff's Office)

According to the complaint, the three teenagers alleged that Grover encouraged them to masturbate in front of him, suggested they could make money doing pornography, and took photos of them naked. Furthermore, Grover allegedly performed oral sex on one of the teenagers four times, grabbed a child's buttocks, showed a boy how to shave his groin area, and would often provide cigarettes and vape pens. 

Grover took two of the teens – who were ages 15 and 16 at the time – on two separate cruises out of Port Canaveral in 2023, where he allegedly pushed the cabin beds together and performed other sexual acts, the complaint said. 

The teens said that Grover reportedly led them to believe they would be considered "crazy" if they ever came forward. 

"If you tell anyone your family won't believe you cause you are an autistic child," Grover allegedly said to one of the victims, according to the complaint. 

James Grover previously spoke with FOX 35 in an interview. 

According to the complaint, Grover was interviewed by an FBI Special Agent in July, where he denied any sexual abuse and claimed the teens were only making these allegations because they "wanted attention." Grover also said one of the victims "is not an honest person and has a history of lying," and said he found it odd that two teens were coming forward at the same time. 

Authorities executed a search warrant on Grover's home and place of business on Wednesday, where they found a tablet with pornography on it and the razor allegedly used to shave a teenage victim. He was taken into custody that day. 

The FBI said it's searching for more of Grover's alleged victims. If you or your child believe they have been allegedly victimized by Grover, or have information in this case, visit www.fbi.gov/snapvictims. All victims' identities will be kept confidential. 

FOX 35 has reached out to SNAP for a statement, but hasn't heard back yet. 

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