Couple indicted for knifepoint rape of Athens special-needs child
A Clarke County grand jury has indicted a man and woman on charges they raped a 10-year-old boy with autism.
Matthew Wilson Freethy-Swimm, 27, held a knife to the throat of the boy while 25-year-old Melissa Nicole Jones had sex with him, according to the indictment filed Oct. 22 in Clarke County Superior Court.
The victim's mother told the Athens Banner-Herald that the alleged assault happened four months ago, while the suspects were looking after the victim during a family crisis involving her other son, who also has autism.
Freethy-Swimm and Jones were leasing an efficiency apartment in the victim's condo at the time of the alleged assault.
The boy did not immediately report that he'd been sexually assaulted, but the alleged incident came to light weeks later through a combination of his behavior and things he said to his mother, according to Athens-Clarke County police.
He subsequently underwent a forensic interview at The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children's Advocacy Center, where he was questioned by someone specially trained in dealing with autistic children.
A detective with the Athens-Clarke police Sex Crimes Unit obtained arrest warrants for the two suspects, and both were arrested Sept. 14.
Held without bail since that time, Freethy-Swimm and Jones were each indicted on charges of statutory rape and child molestation. Freethy-Swimm was additionally charged with aggravated assault for holding a knife to the victim's throat, according to the indictment, and Jones was charged with sexual battery against a juvenile.
Originally from Massachusetts, the suspects were living out of their van upon arriving in Athens and began living in the victim's home after responding to an ad for the efficiency apartment the victim's mother was leasing.
The mother told the Banner-Herald that the assault happened in June, on a day her younger son suffered a "severe meltdown" related to his autism and had to be taken to his doctor. The doctor wanted the boy to go to Athens Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment and possibly institutionalization.
Amid the chaos, the mother said she needed someone to take her older son home until she could deal with the situation. With no family in the area, and everyone she knew locally unavailable, she called on Freethy-Swimm and Jones to help out, the woman said.
The mother said she felt she could trust her tenants with her son because prior to leasing the apartment to them the couple had presented criminal history reports that showed no felony convictions. Police learned there was a warrant for Freethy-Swimm's arrest out of a town in Massachusetts, where he was wanted on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
Anyone who has been sexually assaulted or knows someone who has can contact The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children's Advocacy Center. The agency provides a range of services to child victims of sexual and physical abuse, and also young witnesses to domestic violence and violent crime. All services are free and include medical accompaniment, advocacy, referrals, counseling and support groups.
The Cottage also provides services for adult victims of sexual assault, including a 24-hour crisis and information hotline, medical and legal advocacy, referrals and support for secondary survivors.
Call the crisis and information hotline at (877) 363-1912, or for more information visit www.northgeorgiacottage.org
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