Maricopa County Detention Officer Accused Of Child Molestation

PHOENIX — A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detention officer is accused of molesting a child over four years, officials said.

Chad Swiman has been arrested on suspicion of three counts of molestation of a child and three counts of sexual conduct with a minor, the sheriff's office said Tuesday. Sheriff's office spokesperson Norma Gutierrez said it was recently contacted by a man who reported his now-adult son had been molested as a child by a family friend identified as Swiman.

The crimes he is accused of are believed to have occurred between 2009 and 2013, but court records are sealed.

His bond has been set at $150,000. It was unclear if Swiman had retained a lawyer.

Swiman is on administrative leave while an internal investigation takes place.

“I cannot express enough how disturbing this is for me and our entire organization," Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said in a statement. "Every one of us at MCSO is bound with responsibility to protect and serve our community, especially those who are most vulnerable."