News

FDLE arrests school custodian for solicitation of a minor

 
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2019
 
LIBERTY CO., Fla - FDLE agents arrested John Elias Grande Jr., 29, of Blountstown for lewd and lascivious conduct and online solicitation of a minor.
 
At the request of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE agents investigated Grande in reference to a fourteen year old victim receiving messages from an adult through a mobile application.
 
In December 2018, agents assumed an undercover identity for the purpose of communicating with John Grande’s account. During that time Grande requested lewd photographs of the victim. Grande is a school custodian at Hosford Middle School.
 
Grande was arrested yesterday and booked into the Liberty County Jail. Additional charges are dependent upon completion of forensic exams. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, 2nd Judicial Circuit.
 
Anyone with information that may be helpful to this case is encouraged to contact Special Agent Clint Beam at (850) 410-7475 or the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at (850) 643-2235.
 
For tips on keeping your children safe online, visit the Secure Florida website at: http://secureflorida.org/staying_safe/best_practices_for_parents/
 
 
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Jessica Cary or Jeremy Burns
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001
 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Priorities

FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.