Newport teacher, school director Amber N. Swain arrested on incest and sexual-misconduct charges after alleged relationships with two adopted teens
Newport teacher and Pend Oreille River School director Amber N. Swain, 35, was arrested May 18, 2026, and faces felony incest and sexual-misconduct charges alleging sexual relationships with two adopted teenage boys; she is on administrative leave.
- Arrest and investigation: Swain was arrested May 18, 2026, after a referral from the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), according to local reporting. (Source: KHQ coverage)
- Charges: Initial booking listed first- and second-degree incest; prosecutors later added a first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor allegation. (Local court summaries cited.)
- Bail and restrictions: Prosecutors sought $50,000 bail; one report indicates Swain was released on $20,000 bail and ordered not to contact anyone under 18. (See local TV reporting and KHQ.)
Investigation and arrest
The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office says the probe began when DCYF contacted authorities on May 18, 2026, about possible sexual abuse involving two male teenagers. Detectives interviewed both teens and Swain; deputies reported they reviewed text messages shown to law enforcement and found probable cause to arrest Swain. Officials described the matters as active and ongoing.
“After those interviews and review of text messages shown to law enforcement, deputies say they found probable cause to arrest Swain.” — Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office (reported)
Charges and court filings
Court booking and filings initially listed first- and second-degree incest counts. Following Swain’s first court appearance, prosecutors added a first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor allegation. These are felony counts that carry substantial potential penalties if proven at trial.
Prosecutorial actions: Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney Dolly Hunt urged a $50,000 bail citing public-safety concerns; defense attorney Brett Billingsley argued for release noting no prior criminal history and proposed restrictive conditions as mitigation.
What investigators say the teens reported
Local reporting summarized investigators’ accounts: one teen told detectives he and Swain had sex “plenty of times,” including a few days before his police interview. The teen who was 17 when the alleged conduct began reportedly said he and Swain had sexual contact in bed in May and that Swain stopped the contact before it escalated further.
During interviews, Swain first denied sexual contact with one teen, then later reportedly admitted to a relationship with one of the boys in February — a date she said might reflect a mistaken timeline. Authorities said conflicting statements and the text messages supported probable cause for arrest.
Bail, pretrial restrictions and next steps
Reports vary: prosecutors sought higher bail; one local account indicates Swain was released on $20,000 bail with a court order barring contact with anyone under 18. Her arraignment was scheduled in Pend Oreille County Superior Court, and the case will proceed through pretrial hearings.
School and community response
The Newport School District placed Swain on administrative leave after learning of the arrest and said it is cooperating with law enforcement. The district’s statement (reported by The Spokesman-Review and compiled by local outlets) read in part: “While we cannot say much at this time, we can unequivocally and firmly state that we take these matters very seriously.”
Officials have not released whether the alleged victims were students at Pend Oreille River School, the district’s alternative high school where Swain worked. The sheriff’s office said it was not releasing additional details about the relationship between Swain and the teens at this stage.
Legal context and broader implications
Incest and first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor are serious felony offenses. Penalties vary by charge and circumstances and can include lengthy prison terms and fines if convictions follow. Local reporting and court summaries emphasize that the allegations are unproven until adjudicated in court.
Policy and oversight implications: The case underscores questions about oversight where adults hold both parental and educational authority, the role of child-protection referrals (DCYF initiated the referral here), and the scrutiny alternative schools may face regarding staff boundaries, training and monitoring.
Procedural notes and reporting basis
Investigators reported they reviewed text messages and interviewed both teens and Swain; probable cause was established following those steps, according to law enforcement statements and local media summaries. Court reporting summarized subsequent filings and the addition of the sexual-misconduct allegation after the first court appearance.
Sources and further reading
- KHQ coverage: Newport teacher arrested in Pend Oreille County sex-abuse case
- Local TV reporting and court-summary coverage
Reporting note: This article compiles details from local news coverage, court reporting and law enforcement statements. All allegations are described as such. The case is pending in Pend Oreille County Superior Court.
