A Dallastown man has been charged with child sexual abuse in recent years, with two of the victims now in their 30s, according to court documents.
John P. Grove, 50, of the 200 block of Kirsta Lane has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with a child and corruption of minors, according to York County Regional Police. The department worked with Northern York County Regional Police on the investigation.
Grove is being held in the York County Jail on $500,000 bail.
Several victims have come forward during the investigation, which has been ongoing for months, according to court records, and police have filed charges in six cases.
A man, now 32, told police that Grove was a family friend who attended birthday parties and get-togethers. The man told investigators he was in elementary school when Grove assaulted him, according to a probable cause affidavit. He said some of the attacks occurred while his parents, who were at work, asked Grove to watch him.
Another victim, now 34, told investigators that Grove sexually abused him between the ages of 8 and 15. The abuse occurred almost daily for a time, the affidavit said.
The man told investigators that Grove told him earlier this year that he was selling a house. When the man asked why, Grove replied, “My dad just passed away and I’m going to jail. You know who I am, you know why I’m going to jail,” the affidavit states.
Some of the victims are minors.
Police received a referral from ChildLine about one of the cases, according to court records. The boy, now 16, told investigators that Grove had sexually abused him when he was younger. He told a family member what was happening at the time, but it was not reported to police. A family member confronted Grove and the physical contact stopped.
During the investigation, a child testified that Grove had told him to keep everything secret, according to a sworn statement.
York County Public Defender Bruce Blocher, who is listed in online court records as representing Grove, could not be reached for comment.
How to report abuse
Anyone who suspects a child is being abused can report it to ChildLine. The number is 1-800-932-0313.
This article originally appeared in York Daily Record: Dallastown man accused of sexually abusing minors: police
