MONROE — Bond has been set at $50,000 for a Monroe man and former school district employee charged with sexually assaulting a child under 12.

Andrew J. Swanston was arrested Monday for First Degree Child Sexual Assault-Intercourse with Person Under 12-, and First-Degree Child Sexual Contact or Intercourse with a Person/Child Under 13, both Class “B” felonies.

He appeared in court Tuesday on the charges before Green County Circuit Judge Faun Phillipson. Swanston remained in custody as of the newspaper’s Thursday deadline.

According to the school district, Swanston had been employed since November 2021 as a Special Education Support Staff position at the high school.

Monroe District Superintendent Rodney Figueroa said Swanston is no longer employed by the district and that the charges are unrelated to anything at school or school-related activities.

“The District will always act in the best interest and safety of our children,” said Figueroa. 

Conditions of his bond, should he post it, prohibit him from having any contact with the alleged victim or any minor children.

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.

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,” said the criminal complaint.

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

Later in an interview, he told police he knew he was in trouble for his actions, according to the complaints.

The defendant reportedly 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.

After the alleged abuse, he told police he went inside his house and had consensual sex with his significant other, according to the complaint.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 60 years in prison. He would also likely have to register as a sex offender for life.

Swanston is scheduled for an initial appearance on the charges at 3:45 p.m. June 21.