By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 20, 2026 at 9:56 PM
A former youth pastor from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, has been charged under a newly enacted grooming law. Jeremiah Swaw, 38, of Cadiz, was arrested by the Cadiz Police Department after an investigation revealed inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old female church member. The arrest occurred on a Monday night, following an inquiry that led to the application of a law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly earlier this year. This law, effective since July, defines grooming a minor as engaging in manipulative behavior or trust-building with the intent to induce sexual conduct or foster an intimate or secretive relationship with someone under 18.
Swaw faces a Class D felony charge, and the investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional charges pending further findings. Prior to his arrest, Swaw served as a Next Generation pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Hopkinsville. The church, upon learning of the allegations on Monday, promptly terminated his employment and prohibited him from contacting the youth or participating in church activities. The church emphasized that the alleged offense did not occur on its property and reiterated its commitment to the safety of its members, aligning with the biblical call to protect the vulnerable, as echoed in Micah 6:8.
Cadiz Police Chief Tyler Thomas noted that this is the first instance of someone being charged under this specific grooming statute by his department. The church’s response highlights a commitment to accountability and care for those affected, reflecting the biblical principle of seeking justice and mercy, as outlined in Proverbs 31:8-9. The community and church leadership continue to support the ongoing investigation, underscoring the importance of transparency and justice in such matters.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
