Greensburg man on trial for rape of young child

Rich Cholodofsky | Tuesday, March 4, 2025 5:10 p.m.

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Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a Greensburg man accused of raping a 3-year-old child in 2019.

James Swanson, 48, is charged with three felony counts of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in connection with allegations that he had repeated sexual contact with the boy.

Prosecutors say the child, now 9, disclosed the alleged assaults in a series of statements made to a therapist and other adults, Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said in his opening statement to the jury.

Barr told jurors the child demonstrated the sex acts on his own body as well as with puppets and dolls.

“The commonwealth will prove James Swanson is guilty of raping a 3-year-old child. We will be able to demonstrate serial abuse,” Barr said.

The boy’s mother testified she alerted authorities after her son attempted to describe the sex acts to her and she was advised by the child’s therapist to record videos of him describing the alleged incidents. Her recordings were played for jurors on Tuesday,

Defense attorney Marco Sylvania said Swanson denies the allegations.

“There are problems with the investigation and the evidence and questions about where it came from. These are unpleasant allegations and Mr. Swanson chose a jury of his peers to hear the case, so it will be up to you to determine the facts,” Sylvania said.

Swanson has been free on $50,000 bail since April 2021, according to court records.

The trial before Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger will resume Wednesday.