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Washington Teacher Charged With Incest After Estranged Husband Turned Over Texts

Evidence in a probable-cause affidavit, including sexually explicit messages provided to the state, prompted criminal charges and a trial set for Oct. 6.

Overview

  • Police arrested Amber Swain on June 2 after her estranged husband gave sexually explicit text messages between Swain and one adopted son to Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families.
  • Court affidavits report one adopted son said sexual contact began in December when he was 17 and occurred repeatedly, while a second adopted son described a separate, shorter encounter.
  • Swain initially denied sexual contact in interviews but later told investigators she had sex with one of the boys beginning in February, according to the probable-cause documents.
  • The Newport School District placed Swain on administrative leave from Pend Oreille River School and a judge set bail and no-contact conditions as prosecutors pursue first- and second-degree incest charges.
  • Swain, a former foster-children nonprofit executive who adopted one boy after meeting him as a third-grader, faces a trial on Oct. 6 and up to 10 years in prison on the first-degree count if convicted, and the case has raised questions about caregiver trust and child-protection oversight.