LoudounExtra.com

Former Pastor Charged for Inappropriate Contact With Three Teens

By LoudounExtra.com staff

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A former pastor at an Ashburn church has been charged with having inappropriate contact with three Loudoun County teenagers.

James L. Swanson, 55, of Leesburg, was charged today with two counts of assault and battery and taking indecent liberties with a minor while in a custodial or supervisory position. The alleged incidents occurred while Swanson was a pastor with the Greater Zion Church in Ashburn.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division conducted a two-month investigation that led to the identification of the three alleged victims. The Sheriff's Office received information in April about a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, both from Ashburn, having inappropriate contact with the pastor. One of the incidents reportedly occurred in February of this year, and the second on April 14 of this year. Swanson was charged with battery in these two cases.

Courtesy of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office

James L. Swanson, a 55 year-old former pastor, has been charged with having inappropriate contact with three Loudoun County teenagers in April.

A third victim was identified during the investigation, an incident that occurred during July 2007. The then 14-year-old girl from Sterling was allegedly taken to Herndon by Swanson where he had inappropriate contact with the teenager. Swanson is being charged by the Herndon Police Department with one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor while in a custodial or supervisory position for that incident.

Swanson was taken into custody yesterday by Loudoun investigators. He remains held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Anyone with information regarding these cases, including other possible victims, is asked to contact Investigator W. Promisel of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.