Ex-Highlands Aide Claims Innocence In Drunken Hotel Bash

Police Say Swogger Had Beer, Drugs In New Ken Room With Minors

UPDATED: 3:58 pm EDT May 1, 2008

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Bond was set Thursday at $150,000 for an ex-Highlands Senior High School teacher's aide who police said was found in a hotel room with drugs, alcohol and minors.

"I did nothing wrong. I'm completely innocent," Abbie-Jane Swogger told WTAE Channel 4 Action News as she left District Judge Carolyn Bengel's office.

Swogger, a 34-year-old mother of two and former exotic dancer, was originally charged with felony crack cocaine possession, corruption of minors and possession with intent to deliver.

Police said she rented a Clarion Hotel room where they found beer, 9.5 grams of crack and teenage boys and girls on Feb. 22.

But New Kensington police are now saying Swogger lured two girls to the hotel in the hopes of getting them drunk and high and then wanted them to have sex with her. The new charges include unlawful contact with minors and delivery of controlled substances.

"It's an exorbitant bond under the circumstances," said attorney Duke George. "This girl is really no threat to anybody. It's just a sad scenario that the bond is this high."

Swogger is due back in court later this month for a preliminary hearing.

"It's important for us to detain her so she doesn't corrupt more people," said New Kensington Police Detective Dennis Marsili.

At the hotel party, police said, Swogger tried to convince the two girls to have sex with her, hoping the boys that were also there would join in.

Police said they believe group sex was the plan after Swogger got the teens drunk and high. Police are also alleging Swogger sold crack at the party.

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

George says the teens are trumping up the charges against Swogger so that they don't get into trouble for using drugs themselves.

"Everybody looks at her based on allegations in the criminal complaint," said George. "But I want to remind everybody that they are just allegations made by people who are cooperating with police to save themselves."

According to police, at the party, Swogger had sex with one of the teenage boys. During Swogger's arrest at her apartment last month, the same 17-year-old boy who was at the party was found in her bedroom, police said.

Harrison Township police are also investigating a photo sent to them, which they believe shows Swogger engaging in sex acts with at least two minors.

Swogger remains in custody at the Westmoreland County Prison.

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