Former Highlands Ranch Teacher Faces Five Felony Charges
A former Highlands Ranch teacher, Tera Johnson-Swartz, is facing five felony charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault, after being accused of kissing a student and providing them with marijuana and cigarettes. Johnson-Swartz, a 45-year-old Castle Rock woman who taught at STEM School Highlands Ranch, was initially charged with second-degree kidnapping and unlawful electronic sexual communication, along with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her employment at the school was terminated on Feb. 14, 2025.
Although the original case was dismissed in May 2025, a new case was opened shortly after, as per Douglas County court records. According to Tom Mustin, spokesperson for the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, new information led to the dismissal of the old case.
In the new case, Johnson-Swartz faces the same charges as before, along with three new charges: two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust–pattern of abuse, and one count of sexual assault with a 10-year age difference. She was indicted on all six charges by a grand jury in May 2025.
The additional sexual assault charges stem from incidents between Dec. 1, 2024, and Feb. 20, 2025, where Johnson-Swartz engaged in sexual activities with a student under 18. The relationship came to light when the student’s parents confiscated their phone and discovered deleted text messages with the former teacher.
Witness testimonies revealed that Johnson-Swartz provided the student with cigarettes and allowed them to use her marijuana pen. Around 2,400 messages, many containing explicit content, were exchanged between the two prior to the discovery of their relationship.
Following her indictment, an arrest warrant was issued for Johnson-Swartz, and she was taken into custody. She is scheduled to appear in Douglas County District Court on Jan. 21 for an arraignment hearing.
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