MONROE — A former support staff worker at Monroe High School has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex assault charges.

Andrew Swanston, 32, was arrested in 2023 for First Degree Child Sexual Assault-Intercourse with a Person Under 12. He was sentenced on the felony charge Tuesday, Oct. 22 before Green County Circuit Judge Faun M. Phillipson.

According to the criminal complaint, the alleged assault occurred at or near the defendant’s home as the victim and another child slept in a tent. According to the school district, Swanston had been employed since November 2021 in a special education support staff position at the high school.

The child told investigators she and another child were planning to sleep in a tent and that, at some point, the defendant entered the tent, unzipped her sleeping bag and began sexually assaulting her with his hand. He also forced her to touch him, according to the criminal complaint.

“(Victim 1) stated she told him to stop twice, maybe three times but he kept doing it,” the criminal complaint said.

Swanson reportedly told detectives he was drunk, had blacked out and did not remember touching the victim inappropriately. He also told police, before admitting to the alleged conduct, that he remembered merely touching the child’s stomach in the tent. 

The defendant reportedly also told police he wished he could take back what he did and that “[the victim] is right, I’m disgusting.” He further told investigators that the incident would not have happened if he had not been drinking.

In addition to the 10 years of initial confinement in state prison, Swanston will serve 10 years of extended supervision.  Nolen said he also will have to register for life as a sex offender.

According to court records, Swanston has no other criminal history in Wisconsin.