Local Man Held On Bail On Multiple Sex/Drug Charges

By Andrew Gorosko

A local man was being held this week at Bridgeport Correctional Center on $250,000 bail, awaiting a June 19 court appearance when he will face 18 felony charges stemming from alleged sex and drug offenses.

Ronald Swift, 42, of 45 Maplewood Trail in Pootatuck Park was arraigned on those charges on June 5 in Danbury Superior Court, where a judge maintained Swift’s June 4 arrest bail at the $250,000 amount.

Police allege that in six separate instances dating back to June 2005, Swift committed 18 felonies.

Those offenses include various counts of: attempt to commit second-degree sexual assault, attempt to commit illegal sexual contact, risk of injury to a child, second-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact, sale of certain illegal drugs, sale of hallucinogenic/narcotic substances, sale of a controlled substance, illegal delivery of liquor to minors, and possession of narcotics, according to court records.

Detective Sergeant John Cole said police arrested Swift at his home on warrants on June 4. Police held Swift on bail for the June 5 arraignment. Swift has not yet pleaded to the pending charges, according to court records. If convicted on the charges, Swift could face a lengthy prison sentence.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe declined to provide details about the criminal charges pending against Swift.

Police began an investigation that led to the charges after receiving a complaint against Swift last September.

After receiving the complaint, police investigated the allegations, investigating Swift’s past behavior, resulting in the multiple felony charges against him, the police chief said.

Reacting to the alleged crimes, Chief Kehoe said “It’s very disturbing.” The police official declined to provide specifics about the allegations against Swift. “It’s a sensitive case,” he said, adding, “It’s big bail. It should be.”

The court papers that detail the various criminal allegations against Swift list the two female victims in the case as “Jane Doe” and as “Jane Doe 2.”

In a seven-page arrest warrant application, Detective Michael McGowan lists numerous reasons why police believe Swift is guilty of the multiple felonies, based on testimony provided to police by witnesses.

Police learned of the allegations against Swift from a state government agency, which had received information on the matter from Newtown High School officials.

The underage female victim, known as Jane Doe, was interviewed by multiple investigators in September 2007. The victim described to investigators sexual contact between her and Swift, starting in the summer of 2005, according to the court documents.

The court papers also describe Swift’s alleged sexual contact with another young female, known as Jane Doe 2. That witness stated that Swift distributed marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol to people under age 21.

As part of their investigation into the allegations against Swift, police in November 2007 executed search-and-seizure warrants against Swift for his residence, an adjacent shed, and his 1990 Ford Econoline van. Police said they seized pornographic materials as evidence in the case.

The court papers also list various allegations about Swift’s possession and sale of drugs, as well as his providing alcohol to underage persons.

The late Michael Swift was the brother of Ronald Swift, Chief Kehoe acknowledged. Michael Swift was the gunman in a love triangle double-murder/suicide on South Main Street Thanksgiving morning in 1993 in which Christine Czap, 25, her boyfriend John Krafscik, 28, and Michael Swift, 25, died.