A Hollymead Elementary School teacher has been arrested and charged with 11 felony counts related to sex crimes involving children, sending shockwaves through the Albemarle County community.
Michael J. Swiney, 37, of Buckingham County, turned himself in to the Albemarle County Police Department on Wednesday, June 3.
He is currently being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond following a grand jury indictment returned on June 1.
Swiney, who also previously worked at Woodbrook Elementary School, now faces seven felony counts of aggravated sexual battery, three felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and one felony count of attempted aggravated sexual battery.
The charges stem from incidents involving four juvenile victims over a period stretching from August 2024 through January 2026.
The case first came to light in January 2026 when a student approached authorities and reported that a school staff member had engaged them in inappropriate sexual contact.
What began as a single report quickly expanded as detectives uncovered three additional victims during the course of their investigation. All four children reported unwanted sexual contact during the timeframe outlined in the indictment.
Albemarle County Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas addressed families in an email after the charges were announced, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
Haas confirmed that Swiney had passed all required background checks before his hiring and had been placed on administrative leave in January once the allegations were first brought to the district’s attention.
The superintendent stressed that student safety remains the top priority for the school district, though the arrests have left many parents questioning whether the current systems in place are doing enough to protect children inside classrooms.
Detectives with the Albemarle County Police Department have stated they believe additional victims may not have yet come forward.
Given that Swiney worked across multiple school locations, investigators are urging anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Godfrey at the department’s Criminal Investigations Division by calling 434-296-5807.
The timing of this arrest adds another layer of concern for the community. Just three months earlier, Nicholas J. Clark, another teacher previously connected to Woodbrook Elementary School, was arrested on charges of child pornography possession.
Two serious cases involving staff from overlapping schools within such a short period have prompted hard questions from parents and community leaders about hiring practices and ongoing staff oversight within Albemarle County Public Schools.
Swiney remains in custody without bond as the legal process moves forward. The investigation is still active, and authorities have made clear they are committed to identifying every individual who may have been harmed.
Parents or community members with any information connected to this case are strongly encouraged to come forward and contact the Albemarle County Police Department as soon as possible.
