Three people are under arrest in Volusia County accused of turning a teenage girl into a prostitute and drug-addict. Deputies say there could be more child sex victims.



The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began in June and was taken over by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.

Several witnesses told investigators that 60-year-old Robert Richards paid for sex acts with the girl on multiple occasions, including at his home and the now-closed DeLand restaurant he owned, named "Fresh Off The Hook" at the St. Johns Marina off State Road 44 just west of DeLand.

“As we indicated he did own a restaurant here in DeLand and that’s a big concern for us because that could be a prime location where he could have come in contact with other juveniles," said sheriff's office spokesman Gary Davidson. "And we don’t know if there are other victims out there. So, that is a big concern for us."

“He had talked to others about his interest in young girls and had offered to pay for anybody who could introduce him to young girls," Davidson continued.

Deputies said the girl would then turn the money over to 50-year-old Cynthia Graves, who used it to purchase prescription drugs for herself and her husband, 50-year-old Michael Graves.

The couple is also accused of supplying the girl with prescription painkillers and even injecting the drugs into the girl.

When we knocked on the Graves' front door, a woman who identified herself as Michael’s mother said her son had nothing to do with this case and that Cynthia was the instigator.

Investigators said the teen, now 16 years old, appeared to have track marks on the top of her hand from injecting drugs and acted groggy and wasn’t completely coherent during an interview.

“I will say that she’s in a safe place now and she is on the mend and we want to make sure that continues," Davidson said. "And that’s why we’re doing everything possible to protect her identity, so that she can begin the healing process because obviously she’s been through an enormous ordeal."

Richards was arrested Wednesday at his DeLand home. He was charged with child abuse and two counts of lewd or lascivious battery. He remains in the Volusia County Jail on $30,000 bond.

The Graves were also arrested at their DeBary home Wednesday. Michael was charged with child abuse and given $15,000 bond. His wife, Cynthia, was charged with procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution, deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution and child abuse. Her bond was set at $30,000.