CADIZ, Ky. – Wearing shackles and jail-issued flip-flops, Justin Swope, the former Murray Police Department detective sergeant arrested Wednesday, was arraigned Thursday in Trigg County District Court in two separate but related cases – one filed in Trigg County and the other filed in Calloway County.
Swope, 44, of Almo, who resigned from MPD after his arrest, is currently lodged in the McCracken County Jail and being held on cash bonds totaling $70,000 - $50,000 in Trigg County and $20,000 in Calloway County. While the charges in both counties – one count of third-degree sodomy and two counts of third-degree rape – are identical, the uniform citations shed light on the discrepancy between the two bond amounts.
The uniform citations filed in Trigg and Calloway counties largely mirror each other, with the only material differences being the location of the alleged incident and the victim’s age at the time.
Both citations note that KSP made contact with the alleged victim, who had disclosed having a sexual relationship with Swope that started in 2018, when she was 15 years old. According to the filings, the victim “provided numerous photos, screenshots, and videos documenting their sexual relationship over the years,” which occurred when she was under the ages of 16 and 18 years old.
The Trigg County filing cites a specific incident that allegedly occurred in May 2019 when Swope took the victim – who was 15 years old at the time – to Land Between the Lakes, which is located in Trigg County. The crimes alleged in Calloway County occurred in May 2021, when the victim was 17 years old. According to that citation, Swope met the victim at her home.
In both cases, the charges are based on statements made by the victim in addition to photographic evidence of the victim performing oral sex on the former officer, according to the citations. Both filings further allege that Swope penetrated the victim with both his finger and his penis.
Both citations also note that the investigation is ongoing, and that additional charges are anticipated.
After Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens recused from the Calloway County case, 56th Judicial District Judge Matt Schalk was appointed special judge. Schalk, whose regular district covers Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties, presided over Thursday’s arraignments in both the Calloway and Trigg cases.
Trigg County Attorney Randy Braboy stood in as prosecutor in the Calloway case. After the hearing, he told The Sentinel that he agreed to serve as special prosecutor after Calloway County Attorney Bryan Ernstberger recused himself. Braboy noted, however, that he had not yet been officially appointed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, though he said he anticipated the appointment would be made in the coming days.
Unlike arraignments in Calloway District Court, where Judge Randall Hutchens generally handles requests for court-appointed counsel through written financial forms, Schalk placed Swope under oath Thursday and questioned him in open court about his finances to determine whether he qualified for a public defender.
Swope told the court that he has no income, about $500 in his checking account and no money owed to him by others. He also testified that the home he owns with his wife has some equity, but there is a mortgage on the property. Schalk found Swope indigent and appointed the Department of Public Advocacy to represent him in both cases, assessing a $100 representation fee in each case.
Swope is scheduled to return to Trigg District Court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday, May 26, at 8:30 a.m. His preliminary hearing in the Calloway case is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, in Calloway District Court. Transport orders were filed in both cases to ensure that, in the event he does not post bond, he will be physically present for both hearings.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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