Darlington social worker arrested in US on child sex abuse charge

A social worker from Darlington Council’s looked-after children team has been arrested in the US on a charge of sexual abuse involving a child.

US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that 40-year-old Dwight E McGuire, himself a US citizen, was apprehended at Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport on 11 January following a routine passenger check. Officers discovered that McGuire was the subject of a felony warrant issued in Ohio for “gross sexual imposition”.

McGuire was then arrested after his son, with whom he was travelling, was booked on a return flight to England to be reunited with his mother.

According to US press reports McGuire is accused of forcibly touching a minor on a charge dating from 1988. No accusations have been made regarding the son.

A spokesperson for Darlington Council said that McGuire had been an employee since 2004. She added: “He is now suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation in America. We are getting in touch with the families he was working with in Darlington, but if anyone who Mr McGuire had worked with previously wants to speak to the council, they should ring (01325) 346867.”

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