A former Murray Police Department detective sergeant faces additional felony charges involving the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Wednesday.
Justin Swope, 44, was arraigned in Calloway Circuit Court on two counts each of distributing and possessing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 18. A judge set his bond at $250,000.
The distribution charges are Class C felonies, each punishable by five to 10 years in prison upon conviction. The possession charges are Class D felonies, each carrying a potential sentence of one to five years.
According to the indictment, Swope possessed videos depicting an unidentified adult man engaging in sexual activity with a girl between 12 and 14 years old.
Earlier this year, a Calloway County grand jury indicted Swope on 28 felony counts related to the alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Those charges included two counts of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, 10 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor, four counts of third-degree sodomy, 10 counts of third-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse.
One unlawful transaction charge involves a child under 16 and is a Class B felony, punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison upon conviction. The other involves a minor under 18 and is a Class C felony, as are the charges of promoting a sexual performance by a minor. The remaining charges are Class D felonies.
The original indictment alleges the abuse began in 2018, when the victim was 15, and continued through 2021. Swope worked for the Murray Police Department during that period.
Kentucky State Police investigated the latest case. Assistant Attorney General Richie Kemp presented it on behalf of the Commonwealth.
