Newport teacher Amber Swain arrested on incest charges after alleged sexual relationships with two adopted teens
Newport, Washington – Amber N. Swain, 35, a teacher and Pend Oreille River School director, was arrested and faces counts including first‑degree incest and first‑degree sexual misconduct with a minor after alleged sexual contact with two adopted teenage boys.
- Arrested and charged: Swain faces first‑ and second‑degree incest and first‑degree sexual misconduct with a minor. (Source: KREM/YouTube)
- Victims identified in records: Two male teens, listed as her adopted children; alleged encounters began when one was 17. (Source: KREM/YouTube)
- Bail and restrictions: Booked and released on $20,000 bail with no‑contact orders and prohibition of contact with anyone under 18. (Source: KHQ; KREM/YouTube)
- School response: Pend Oreille River School placed Swain on administrative leave and said it is cooperating with investigators. (Source: KHQ)
Who is Amber Swain and where she worked
Amber N. Swain is a 35‑year‑old Newport resident who served as a teacher and director at Pend Oreille River School, the Newport School District’s alternative high school. The district placed Swain on administrative leave after learning of her arrest and said it is cooperating with investigators. The district said it “takes these matters very seriously.” (Source: KHQ)
How the investigation began
The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal investigation after the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) contacted law enforcement on May 18 with concerns about possible sexual abuse of two teen males. Investigators arranged forensic interviews with both teens and reviewed text messages shown to law enforcement, which helped prompt deeper inquiry. (Sources: KHQ; KREM/YouTube)
Allegations from the teens
According to investigators and local reporting, court records identify the two boys as Swain’s adopted children. One teen told detectives a sexual relationship began in December when he was 17 and said the pair had sex “plenty of times,” including within days of his interview, and some contact reportedly continued after he turned 18. The second teen told detectives that in May he and Swain were in bed together and that he touched her multiple times before Swain stopped the incident. Investigators interviewed both teens as part of the probe. (Source: KREM/YouTube)
Swain’s statements to investigators and arrest
Detectives interviewed Swain on June 2. Prosecutors say she initially denied having sex with one of the teens but later told investigators she had a relationship with one boy in February, asserting that was after he turned 18. She reportedly said,
“I could have my timeline messed up.”
After interviews and review of messages, detectives say they found probable cause to arrest Swain. She was booked on incest charges and later released on $20,000 bail with no‑contact orders. (Sources: KHQ; KREM/YouTube)
Charges, bail and court process
Swain faces counts of first‑degree and second‑degree incest and first‑degree sexual misconduct with a minor. First‑degree incest in Washington involves sexual contact with a close relative and can carry heavy penalties; local reporting notes that convictions on the present counts could expose Swain to decades in prison and significant fines under cited sentencing ranges. Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney Dolly Hunt requested $50,000 bail at the initial hearing, citing public‑safety concerns after reports Swain may have made contact with one of the teens while in custody. Swain’s public defender, Brett Billingsley, argued for release without bail, noting no prior criminal history and proposing housing conditions to keep the teens separate. The judge set bail at $20,000. The case was moved to Pend Oreille County Superior Court and an arraignment was scheduled in early June. (Sources: KREM/YouTube; KHQ)
School district and community response
The Newport School District confirmed Swain’s role at Pend Oreille River School and said she has been placed on administrative leave as law enforcement investigates. District officials said they are cooperating fully with authorities and reiterated they take such allegations seriously. Local reporting has not said whether the alleged victims attended Swain’s school; law enforcement has not released the teens’ names and is following standard practice to protect possible victims. Community members in small, rural Pend Oreille County have reacted with concern and calls for accountability as the case moves through the courts. (Source: KHQ)
What remains unclear
Key details remain unresolved in public records and reporting. The exact timeline of alleged encounters — particularly between December and February — has not been fully established, and it is unclear whether any conduct occurred on school property or was directly tied to Swain’s employment. Long‑term welfare and placement arrangements for the teens after DCYF’s involvement have not been disclosed publicly. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are preparing for further court proceedings. (Sources: KREM/YouTube; Bonner County Daily Bee)
Legal context and possible penalties
Washington law treats sexual contact between a parent or guardian and a child as especially serious. Incest and sexual misconduct charges carry potential prison terms and fines, and sentencing can increase when the alleged perpetrator is in a position of authority or trust. Local reporting notes combined sentences on current counts could total roughly up to two decades in prison depending on convictions and sentencing decisions in Superior Court. (Source: KREM/YouTube)
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Parents and school leaders in Huntington Beach should note several practical and policy lessons from this case:
- Student safety and trust: Allegations of sexual contact by an adult caregiver who also works with teens underline the need for strict safeguards in trusted roles. Parents should ask schools about supervision and reporting policies.
- Hiring and vetting: Districts and alternative‑education programs must maintain clear background‑check records and references; local districts may review vetting and oversight for employees serving at‑risk students.
- No‑contact and enforcement: Prosecutors and judges may impose no‑contact orders; law enforcement and school resource officers should be prepared to enforce orders and coordinate with child protective services.
- Adoption and family oversight: The case raises questions when adults adopt older minors or assume parental roles while working in schools; social‑service agencies should confirm compliance and support checks for adoptive caregivers.
- Community trust and communication: Clear, timely communication from school boards and police helps preserve public trust while respecting legal protections for victims.
- Reporting channels: Residents should know how to report suspected abuse. In Washington this matter was referred to DCYF; locally, report suspected child abuse to county child protective services and local law enforcement so agencies can evaluate cases and preserve evidence.
Huntington Beach parents and leaders who want to press for change can ask local boards about background checks, no‑contact enforcement procedures, and supervision of alternative programs. Vigilant oversight, quick reporting and cooperation with investigators are practical steps that protect children and hold adults accountable when allegations arise.
Sources and reporting
This account is based on Pend Oreille County law‑enforcement releases, court records and reporting from regional outlets, including KREM/YouTube, KHQ, and Bonner County Daily Bee.
Reporting compiled from Pend Oreille County law‑enforcement releases and local media reporting: KREM/YouTube; KHQ; Bonner County Daily Bee.
