HOPKINSVILLE (KY)
Kentucky New Era [Hopkinsville KY]
August 21, 2026
By Tonya S Grace
Cadiz resident and former Hopkinsville youth pastor Jeremiah E. Swaw, 38, has been charged with grooming a minor after both Swaw and his wife, Hayla Swaw, as well as the minor involved walked into the Cadiz Police Department to report the circumstances that occurred over multiple days with Jeremiah Swaw.
A citation from the Cadiz Police Department notes that the Swaws have a power of attorney for guardianship of the minor, who is unnamed, as of March 13 of this year.
Information included in the citation reports that the minor, among other things, stated that Jeremiah Swaw on July 28 touched her leg and thigh area while traveling in the car during a shopping trip in Clarksville, Tennessee.
They later watched a movie together after returning back home, and Jeremiah Swaw afterward came into the minor’s room and engaged in incidents that the minor said continued about every other day through Aug. 15.
The citation notes that Jeremiah Swaw also gave a statement to the police of what happened. Both the minor and Jeremiah Swaw reported to police that the two never had sex, according to the citation.
Jeremiah Swaw was arrested on Aug. 17 while at the station.
Hillcrest Baptist Church, where Jeremiah Swaw had served as the Next Generation pastor, subsequently issued a statement and said that Jeremiah Swaw has been terminated from his job effective immediately.
Church officials said in their statement that church leadership was made aware that Jeremiah Swaw had turned himself in to authorities for an alleged illegal and immoral act with a minor.
“We are deeply saddened and troubled by this news, and we ask that you join us in prayerfully awaiting more information on this matter as it proceeds through the justice system,” church officials said.
“Per our understanding, this alleged offense did not occur on church property,” the statement noted.
The citation from the Cadiz police Department also defined grooming, according to state statutes, as being a person in a position of authority or special trust who engages in grooming behavior with a minor younger than 18 with the intent to entice, coerce, solicit or induce the minor to engage in sexual conduct with the person or another person and with the intent to develop an intimate or secretive relationship with the minor.
Reach Tonya S. Grace at 270-887-3240 or tgrace@kentuckynewera.com.