KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA Case involving former CHP officer's sexual abuse on minors closed to public

Case involving former CHP officer's sexual abuse on minors closed to public

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EL CENTRO, CA - The former CHP Lieutenant accused of sexual misconduct with minors nearly a decade ago was in court this morning.

This time, John Swaim was seen in Family Court.  Sources tell KSWT News 13 it has to do with a stay away order that Social Services issued on Swaim from his residence after the Imperial County Sheriff's Office began investigating the allegations back in September.

Minutes before court proceedings were to start this morning, the bailiff informed KSWT News 13 that media would not be allowed to enter nor hear the proceedings because it is a juvenile case and is closed to the public.

Moments later, the glass window of Judge Diane Altamirano's courtroom door was blocked out with white paper to obscure the view of the court.

Although the docket shows the times the case would be heard, what is not shown are the charges, which were obliterated with a thick black marker.

Reading beneath the three obscured charges, it reads:  "Failure to Protect"..."Sexual Abuse"...and "Abuse of a Sibling".

There's a lot of public interest involving the former CHP Officer accused of sexually abusing his two daughters a decade ago.  The case is listed as a jurisdiction hearing:  contested and ongoing.