A federal jury has delivered a guilty verdict against James Bernard Grover, 63, of Deltona, for the coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The decision follows a trial that detailed how Grover utilized his position as a community leader to target a vulnerable victim.
Grover was the founder and executive director of the Sanford-based nonprofit organization known as the Special Needs Advocacy Program, or SNAP. Evidence and testimony presented in court revealed that Grover used his role within the organization to meet an autistic minor, whom he subsequently coerced into sexual acts.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the conviction following the conclusion of the trial. Grover now faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has been officially set for May 28, 2026.
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The investigation into Grover’s activities was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Offices of both Seminole and Volusia Counties. Assistant United States Attorneys Diane S. Hu and Robert D. Sowell are leading the prosecution.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative established in 2006 to address child sexual exploitation. The program coordinates federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to apprehend offenders and provide rescue resources for victims.
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