Bishop Indicted in Child Sexual Assaults
BOSTON, March 25, 2021— The bishop of Greater Victory Temple in Mattapan will be arraigned next month after a Suffolk County grand jury returned indictments against him for child rape and other offenses, District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.
GEORGE SWAIN, 71, of Dorchester faces arraignment in Superior Court on April 14, 2021, on seven counts of rape of a child and five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Bishop Swain was previously arraigned in connection with the offenses on November 16, 2020, in the Dorchester Division of Boston Municipal Court. The indictments returned yesterday move his case to Suffolk Superior Court, where they will be adjudicated.
“Bishop Swain is accused of using his position of trust and authority to ingratiate himself to his victims and their families, grooming them in order to gain access to targets for his sexual abuse. He allegedly preyed on his victims’ faith and used it as an entryway into their lives,” District Attorney Rollins said. “Each of these brave survivors made the challenging decision to disclose the sexual abuse they suffered and endured as children at the hands of an adult. And even more troubling, an adult in a position of trust, oversight and spiritual guidance. Disclosing sexual abuse is never an easy decision, but I want survivors to know that my Office is here to listen and to provide compassionate support and resources, whether or not the case is prosecuted.”
Suffolk prosecutors learned of the alleged abuse in September 2020. The charges against Bishop Swain represent offenses committed against three males when they were in their teens or younger. The victims are now in their 30s.
During forensic interviews, each of the men disclosed a series of sexual assaults which occurred at the church and at Bishop Swain’s Dorchester home.
Victims of child abuse are most often harmed by an adult they know. Children may be afraid of what will happen to themselves, their family or their abuser if they tell, or they may fear being blamed for the abuse. Their abusers frequently threaten them with harm, or say they will not be believed. Such factors make even older teens vulnerable to abuse by a trusted adult, as well, but Massachusetts law does not provide the same protections to these older children. District Attorney Rollins, noticing this discrepancy, helped draft pending legislation that would extend protection to minors in these age groups from sexual abuse by individuals who are mandated reporters or in positions of trust, including clergy members, teachers and coaches.
“A child does not become any less vulnerable to abuse by a person who exerts authority over them when they turn 14 or even 16, but current Massachusetts law does not reflect that. I am proud to partner with State Senate Majority Leader Joan Lovely and Rep. Liz Miranda in filing HD.3822/SD.2299, An Act relative to sexual assaults by adults in positions of authority or trust, which will help us protect youth from abuse while ensuring that those who use their positions of authority to harm and target vulnerable children for abuse are held accountable. By closing this loophole in the existing law, we can better serve survivors of abuse and remove one of the barriers to disclosure and ultimately healing,” District Attorney Rollins said.
While the victims and witnesses of any crime should call 911 in an emergency, there are additional resources available to report suspected crimes against children. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146. Survivors may also contact the Child Protection Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-619-4300. Anyone who believes that a child in Massachusetts may be the victim of abuse can call the Department of Children and Families’ Child at Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200. Those concerned that a child is being exploited online may report a Cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or www.cybertipline.com.
Assistant District Attorney Audrey Mark, Chief of District Attorney Rollins’ Child Protection Unit, is prosecuting the case against Bishop Swain. Catherine McGuane is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate. Arraignment is scheduled to take place on April 14, 2021, in Suffolk Superior Court
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.