Palmer man charged with molesting 3 girls

By Andrew Wellner
Frontiersman
Published on Saturday, July 26, 2008 9:39 PM AKDT

By Andrew Wellner

Frontiersman

WASILLA — Alaska State Troopers arrested a Palmer man Thursday, charging him with 24 counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to a report investigator Luis Nieves filed with the case, relatives of John Malcom Groff, 66, confronted the man July 18 with allegations from three girls who allege Groff had molested them at his Wasilla cabin.

The same relatives relayed their report to the Office of Children Services, which in turn called troopers Monday, Nieves says in his report. Troopers opened an investigation, and shortly before noon Thursday, Groff came to the Palmer trooper post saying he wished to turn himself in.

In interviews, the three girls — ages 7, 12 and 12 — told troopers Groff would molest them primarily at bedtime and in the morning, Nieves reports.

One girl said that, during one morning incident, she and another girl kicked Groff until he stopped touching them, at which point he left the bedroom, yelling at them to get out of bed, the report says. Another girl said that whenever Groff touched her she would run out of the cabin afterwards and hide in the woods.

In his interview with troopers, Groff admitted to molesting two of the girls but, at least initially, denied touching the third, Nieves wrote.

But according to Nieves’ report, Groff also told troopers, “If she said it happened he would not call her a liar. Groff said it is possible he has forgotten.”

Groff also told troopers he believes that his child molestation “is a disease,” the report says.

Groff said he would never hurt a child and, in these instances, only wanted to “open the communication door” so the girls “would feel comfortable talking to him about sex,” Nieves says in his report, noting that Groff also said the girls never talked to him about sex.

Groff was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, where records show he remains. According to troopers, no bail amount was initially set.

He is charged with 24 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. His first court hearing was Friday.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

Comments

9 comment(s)

    Angry Resident wrote on Aug 3, 2008 8:12 AM:

    " I hope this man doesnt get to take a plea of guilty, just in order to reduce his sentence, Like my ex husband did.
    Guilty is guilty dont sentence him lightly just because he admitted he did it. I believe he should get life with out chance of parol. And by the way my exhusband only got 8 year. After all the victims get to live with the trama for life. "

    Barb wrote on Aug 1, 2008 1:03 PM:

    " To Shari - this kind of sick behaviour will always be prevalent because we have turned into a sex oriented society and these sickos are experts at manipulation, predation, and control. Look at the vice principal of Harvest Christian School in Anchorage who was arrested with the most horrifying child sex abuse images many seasoned officers said they had ever seen. There have been priests, police officers, legislators, teachers, etc. arrested for sexual offenses against a child. Your over simplification of a solution to a pandemic worldwide issue has me flabbergasted. There are countless wolves in sheep's clothing trolling! "

    Concerned Mother wrote on Aug 1, 2008 10:49 AM:

    " I first want to applaud the investigators they are amazing, and the way the connect with the young victims is awesome!!! I am so concerned with the large amount of sex offenders that live amongst us, and would like to see a harsher punishment and perhaps it would stop. How about any sexual crime committed towards a minor receive either life in prison no parole, or even death penalty for crowd control???
    Something has to happen we have the highest rate of sex crimes in the country (per capita) "

    Angry wrote on Jul 28, 2008 4:25 PM:

    " Shari, It's very disturbing that your focus is on blaming child victims for not running away and on a "faulty" education system. Child sexual abuse is not the fault of the child or the school - it's the fault of the criminal offender. Obviously, you are not aware that sexual abuse prevention classes are being taught in Mat-Su elementary schools in order to give kids some skills and knowledge about what to do if such a situation arises. However, with or without prevention knowledge, no child is responsible for being abused - the offender is at fault!! "

    Greg wrote on Jul 28, 2008 11:24 AM:

    " It's probably fortunate for this old pedo that he turned himself in to Troopers. Maybe his body might not have been found otherwise. Have a nice staycation in jail old chap. If people will search sex offender sites, they'd be suprised how many of these twisted fruitcakes live among US. "

    Shari Larson wrote on Jul 26, 2008 1:31 PM:

    " It is sad to hear that this kind of sick behavior is still so prevelant in Alaska. By now, 7 thru 12 yr. olds, should have been educated by our educational system, to scream, kick(in the groin area) & run, all the time yelling "FIRE". How is it that in the 21st century our children & Grandchildren, still haven't been taught, well enough, to get the heck away from perverts. Maybe we should include a class on "Be Aware of Predators,who ever they may be" to our 2nd graders. Support Our Teachers! Help Our Children! "

    Jim wrote on Jul 26, 2008 11:30 AM:

    " He said he has a disease, he is right and the name of it is sin. The forgiveness of sin is paramount to all else. So long as man exists in this state recovery from these aberrations of society are impossible. Forgiveness of sin is found in none other than the Lamb who was presented spotless and blameless before God for just that purpose. "

    perplexed wrote on Jul 26, 2008 11:10 AM:

    " Is he a Palmer man or a Wasilla Man?? "

    ROBERT wrote on Jul 25, 2008 6:42 PM:

    " HANG EM "

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