Published: July 10, 2008 08:31 pm      

Former Richlands band director charged with sexual abuse

RICHLANDS, Va. — A former well-known Tazewell County band director who retired earlier this year, has been named in a seven-count indictment charging him with taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship.

Danny Lee Swartz, 41, of Richlands, was arrested Thursday morning in response to the indictment returned on Tuesday by a Tazewell County grand jury, according to Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee.

“He had tendered his resignation earlier this year,” Lee said. “He was not an active teacher at the time these charges were brought. The school system has been very cooperative with our investigation.”

The Tazewell County School Board accepted Swartz’s resignation at its April 14 meeting and recognized the band director during that meeting. Swartz expressed his appreciation to the board “for giving me an opportunity to teach music,” and encouraged the board to keep the music program strong.

According to a press release from Lee’s office, “the indictment alleges that through the 2007/2008 school year, (Swartz) sexually abused more than one student by sexually touching, proposing sexual acts, sexually exposing himself to students and asking a student to expose himself.” The press release indicated that the investigation came as a result of a request from the school board.

Lee said that Swartz appeared before a magistrate Thursday who set bond at $15,000, with the additional condition that the defendant “has no contact with children under the age of 18 years of age including through the Internet,” according to the press release.

“Our office was informed this afternoon that Ben Chafin is representing Mr. Swartz,” Lee said. “I expect at this point that he will be arraigned on the charges (this) afternoon, and the judge will set a trial date at that point.” Lee said that if convicted, Swartz faces a maximum 10-year sentence on each of the indecent liberties charges.

“The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted the investigation,” Lee said. He added that the investigation is on-going, and encouraged anyone with additional information to contact Special Agent John Santolla of the Virginia State Police at (276) 762-2112.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com