A former youth program worker at a Bloomington nonprofit faces felony charges for allegedly grooming a teenage girl in the program.
A board member of Western Avenue Community Center [WACC] alerted police to sexual text messages allegedly made by 30-year-old Xavier T. McSwain to one of the teens in the program, according to a probable cause statement that prosecutors presented in McLean County court.
McSwain, who now lives in Hammond, Indiana, started the YOLO program at Western Avenue and served as an ambassador. An official with Western Avenue said McSwain was terminated after the incident was discovered in June 2025, prosecutors said. McSwain then allegedly told the Western Avenue representative that he would be heading to Chicago until “things blew over,” making it clear he was aware of the situation. Bloomington Police said they began their investigation in June 2025.
McSwain was also a hall monitor at Bloomington Junior High School, prosecutors said. District 87 has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
WACC has also not responded to requests for comment.
The teen shared with a representative of Western Avenue screenshots of the conversations with McSwain, according to the probable cause statement. One of the messages allegedly said, “I ain’t going to lie I wish you were older, but don’t nobody have to know and I’m not trying to get in trouble.” He allegedly also told the teen during a gym class at BJHS about conversations he had with another female that were sexual in nature.
The girl’s mother had told police the teen and McSwain had grown close until he started sending sexually explicit messages, prosecutors said.
Bloomington Police arrested McSwain on Tuesday, following his Dec. 31 indictment. He faces one count of grooming. McSwain was released from custody following his court appearance Wednesday. A judge ruled he is not allowed to have contact with minors, except his own child.
Bloomington Police say the investigation is ongoing.
McSwain’s next court date is March 23.
