A small community along the Idaho-Washington line is reeling after a local teacher was jailed on suspicion of incest, accused of having sexual contact with two teenage boys. Amber N. Swain, 35, is being held at the Pend Oreille County Jail and has been placed on administrative leave by her employer while detectives dig deeper into the case.
According to The Spokesman-Review, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families contacted the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office on May 18 about possible sexual abuse, which led to forensic interviews with the two alleged victims. A probable-cause affidavit read in court states that one of the teens reported having sex with Swain multiple times since Christmas, including an encounter just two days before a forensic interview. Detectives say they reviewed text messages between Swain and one of the boys as part of the investigation.
What investigators say
The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office said detectives established probable cause to arrest Swain on the incest allegations, and she was booked into the county jail, as reported by Coeur d'Alene Press. Because Swain works for the Newport School District, investigators notified district officials, who in turn said they are cooperating with law enforcement. The sheriff’s office has described the matter as an active and ongoing investigation and has not released further details.
Court orders and legal outlook
At Swain’s first court appearance, a judge found probable cause for three felony allegations, set bond at $20,000 and scheduled her arraignment for Monday. The judge also ordered that she have no contact with the teens or any minors and that she not leave the state, according to The Spokesman-Review. Prosecutors told the court they were concerned about potential witness tampering and had argued for higher bail. If convicted, first-degree incest is a Class B felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while the related counts cited in court are Class C felonies with lower maximum penalties, per the report.
Background and community reaction
Local social media posts and online profiles indicate that Swain had been active in foster-care circles, and The Mirror reports she previously led a foster-support nonprofit and shared videos about adoption. Neighbors and parents told reporters the accusations are especially jarring in light of her public advocacy. District officials have said they are working with law enforcement while the investigation continues, as reported by Coeur d'Alene Press.
Swain’s case remains under investigation, and authorities say more information will be released as it becomes available. Anyone who may have relevant information is urged to contact the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office.
