Former Kentucky police detective indicted on dozens of child sex charges
A former detective for the Murray Police Department has been indicted for dozens of charges relating to rape and other sexual offenses involving a minor while he was an officer, the Kentucky Attorney General’s office announced Monday.
Justin Swope, 44, was indicted Tuesday for 28 charges related to rape and other sex crimes against a minor over a period of three years. The abuse began in 2018, when the victim was 15 years old, Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office said.
Swope was indicted on four counts of sodomy, 10 counts of rape, two counts of sexual abuse, first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor (under 16), unlawful transaction with a minor (under 18), and 10 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor.
The eight-page indictment outlines years-long, explicit details about sex acts performed by Swope and acts that he forced the minor girl to perform.
Swope would send the girl inappropriate pictures and forced her to send the same. He forced her to take part in multiple forms of sexual intercourse, sometimes in a parked car, according to the indictment.
Swope is no longer employed by the Murray Police Department, the attorney general’s office confirmed.
Swope was being held in the Marshall County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond Monday, the attorney general’s office said.
It was unclear how the assaults were reported to police.
Swope’s first court appearance is scheduled for July 6 in Calloway County.
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 4:51 PM.
