Minors Prepared To Testify Against Ex-T.A. Accused Of Partying With Students

POSTED: 4:17 pm EST March 6, 2008
UPDATED: 5:46 pm EST March 6, 2008

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. -- A woman who resigned as a Highlands Senior High School teacher's aide after police said they found her in a hotel room with drugs, alcohol and minors, was back in court on Thursday.

Abbie-Jane Swogger, a 34-year-old mother of two and former exotic dancer, is accused of renting a room at the Clarion Hotel, where police said they found beer, 9.5 grams of crack cocaine and teenage boys and girls on Feb. 22.

Dozens of witnesses, many of them minors, were in the courtroom for the hearing, preparing to testify against Swogger. But a judge postponed the hearing, because prosecutors announced they will file more felony charges against Swogger.

"We continue to meet with witnesses," said assistant district attorney Leo Ciaramitaro. "We continue to investigate the charges, especially in a case of this nature."

New Kensington police charged the Natrona Heights woman with felony crack cocaine possession, corruption of minors and possession with intent to deliver.

"Unequivocally, we are prepared to fight those," said defense attorney Duke George.

A hearing on all the charges will be held in New Kensington later in March. Until then, the judge ruled Swogger must remain in jail.

During Swogger's arrest at her last month, police said the same 17-year-old boy who was at the party was found hiding in her bedroom.

Swogger has said that she rented the hotel room with friends for a night out without her children. But she said her son showed up with friends, who refused to leave.

If Swogger is convicted of possessing the cocaine, police said that alone could put her in prison for a minimum of two years.

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