Local News

Teacher's Aide Resigns After Arrest

HARRISON TWP. (KDKA) ― A local teacher's aide facing criminal charges after police say that she spent the night in a hotel room with teenage students, alcohol and drugs has now quit her job at the school.

The Highlands School District confirms that Abbiejane Swogger handed in her resignation this morning.

Swogger said it was too uncomfortable to work at the school anymore given the circumstances but police say this story is far from over.

They expect that charges will be filed.

Swogger was arrested Friday when police found her inside a New Kensington hotel.

In the room, police found beer, pot, an open condom wrapper and at least four teenagers.

KDKA's Alison Morris spoke with Swogger this morning inside Swogger's home.

Morris: "Were any of the teenagers drinking while you were there?"

Swogger: "No."

Morris: "Did any of them smoke marijuana while you were there?"

Swogger: "No."

Morris: "Did any of them have sex while you were there?"

Swogger: "No."

According to police, Swogger had at least four teenage students in room 107 of the New Kensington Clarion Hotel on Thursday night.

When police arrived Friday, there was evidence of drinking, drugs and sex.

"The hotel room was in total disarray. I don't know how long they were there for, but it was completely trashed," said Mark Glogowski of the Tarentum Police. "There was empty beer cans laying about the room, there was probably a half drank case of beer on the counter. There were condom wrappers and there were some remnants of drugs, narcotic use."

Swogger, a former exotic dancer, confirmed that seven people stayed in the hotel room, including four teens, but insists that none of the minors did anything illegal.

Morris: "Were there people there having sex while you were there?"

Swogger: "Yeah."

Morris: "Were they minors?"

Swogger: "No."

Morris: "They were adults?"

Swogger: "Yes."

Morris: "Were there minors there at the time?"

Swogger: "That they were having sex? They kept it pretty discreet."

Morris: "Were there minors there while there was drinking going on?"

Swogger: "Yeah, but they weren't drinking because they were with my son."

Morris: "Were there minors from your high school there?"

Swogger: "With my son."

Tarentum Police say they were unable to file charges in this case because it didn't fall under this jurisdiction, but they say they fully expect that both New Kensington and Harrison Township Police will file at least narcotics and corruption of minor charges.

Meanwhile, the parents of the students involved in this situation say they also would like to press charges.

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