Washington teacher charged with incest involving 2 adopted teen boys
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A teacher in Washington state has been accused of having sexual relations with two teenage boys she adopted.
The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office said 35-year-old Amber Swain of Newport was jailed Tuesday on charges of first- and second-degree incest following an investigation. Swain worked as a teacher and administrator at Pend Oreille River School, the Newport School District’s alternative high school. He was placed on administrative leave after the district learned of his arrest. Spokesman-Review reported.
“While we cannot say much at this time, we can state clearly and unequivocally that we take these matters very seriously,” the district said in a statement. he said. “We are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation into this matter.”
The sheriff’s office said it was contacted May 18 by the state Department of Children, Youth and Families regarding the possible sexual abuse of two male teenagers who were 17 and 18 when the alleged abuse began several months ago, the newspaper reported.
SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD WARNING THAT WASHINGTON STATE PRIORITIZED ACCUSED TEACHERS ABOVE CHILD SAFETY
Amber Swain, a teacher at Pend Oreille River School in Washington state, is facing incest charges for allegedly having sexual intercourse with two teenage boys. (Pend Oreille River School; Newport School District)
Both teens, like Swain, were questioned by investigators, authorities said. One of the boys told authorities that he and Swain had sex “many times”; This included several days before he met with investigators. KREM-TV reported.
The sheriff’s office said after speaking with Swain, detectives found probable cause to arrest him. The investigation began in May when text messages between Swain and one of the teenage boys were shown to law enforcement, the news station reported.
Swain initially denied having sex with the teen when interviewed by investigators, but later admitted to having a relationship with one of the boys in February, the station reported; This would happen after the child turned 18.
IMAGES THAT WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SHOWN IN THE TEACHER’S SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION
“I may have messed up my timeline,” he reportedly told investigators.
The other teenage victim told detectives she touched Swain multiple times while they were in bed together in May, but Swain put a stop to it before the incident escalated.
According to KREM-TV, prosecutors requested that Swain be banned from contacting the teenagers after he allegedly reached out to one of them from prison while he was in custody.
A teacher in Washington state allegedly had sexual intercourse with two teenage boys. (Getty Images)
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Pend Oreille County Prosecutor Dolly Hunt asked the judge to set bail at $50,000 for Swain, citing public safety concerns. Swain’s public defender, Brett Billingsley, asked for his client’s release, arguing that he had no prior criminal record and arguing that public safety concerns could be addressed by having Swain live in separate housing from the juveniles.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Billingsley for comment.
