Former Murray Police Department detective Justin Swope now faces 38 felony charges involving the same minor after a Trigg County grand jury returned an eight-count indictment Tuesday. The indictment contains five more counts than the three charges originally filed against him in Trigg County.
Swope, 44, was indicted on one count of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor under 16 involving an illegal sex act, a Class B felony; three counts of third-degree sodomy, one count of third-degree rape and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, all Class D felonies.
The original Trigg County case included two counts of third-degree rape and one count of third-degree sodomy. Compared with the original charges, the indictment includes one fewer rape count, two additional sodomy counts, three sexual abuse counts and the Class B charge of unlawful transaction with a minor.
The indictment alleges all eight offenses occurred on or about May 28, 2019, when the alleged victim was 15 years old. The Class B felony alleges Swope knowingly induced, assisted or caused her to engage in illegal sexual activity, while the remaining counts accuse him of sexual intercourse, multiple oral sex acts and sexual contact with her breasts and genital area at two locations: in a parked vehicle and beside a trail.
Kentucky State Police arrested Swope May 20 after MPD asked the agency to investigate allegations involving one of its officers. MPD announced his resignation the same day.
He initially faced three felony charges in each of two separate but related cases filed in Calloway and Trigg counties. A Calloway County grand jury later indicted him on 30 counts alleging sexual offenses involving the same minor between June 2018 and July 2021.
Following the Trigg County indictment, Judge James R. Redd III, chief circuit judge for the 56th Judicial Circuit, increased Swope’s bond tenfold, from $50,000 to $500,000. After the Calloway County grand jury returned its 30-count indictment, Circuit Judge Andrea Moore likewise increased his bond from $20,000 to $500,000. He is now held on cash bonds totaling $1 million in the two cases.
Swope is scheduled to be arraigned in Trigg Circuit Court at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, before 56th Judicial Circuit Division 2 Judge Natalie White.
A status hearing in his Calloway Circuit Court case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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