Sexual Abuse At Special Needs Group Home Prompts 2 Arrests, Deputies Say

BRADENTON, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of two men in connection with several recent sexual battery cases at a Bradenton group home for special needs people.

According to the agency, its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct began on Nov. 14. That investigation led to the initial arrest of Jeremiah Damsgaard, 25, on Nov. 17. At that time, Damsgaard was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim age 12 to 16. He was also charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim age 12 to 16. Deputies added a count of sexual battery on an adult victim on Monday, Dec. 12.

According to the sheriff’s office, Damsgaard’s victims are both males, ages 14 and 29 years.

Damsgaard, sheriff’s office spokesman Dave Bristow said, is a friend of the second man charged as a result of the investigation. That man, David Makynen, 30, worked at several group homes over the past 12 years as a contractor for the State of Florida. Makynen, the sheriff’s office said, worked as a support coach for special needs adults.

Deputies say Makynen provided Damsgaard access to his alleged victims. Makynen was also arrested Monday, charged with three counts of sexual battery on adult victims. The sheriff’s office said Makynen’s victims are all men, ages 25, 29 and 50.

The two men are also under investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the sheriff’s office noted in a Tuesday email to media.

Additional charges against both men are pending. The sheriff's office is not releasing the name or location of the group home involved to protect the identity of the victims. Both men are from Bradenton. Bristow confirmed the home where the batteries allegedly occurred is also in Bradenton.

Anyone with information about the case or possible additional victims is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Both Makynen and Damsgaard remained in the Manatee County Jail Tuesday without bond, according to jail records.

Booking photos of Damsgaard and Makynen courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office