Bernard Swaim speaks out on time served in Chelan County Jail

Bernard “Bernie” Swaim spoke exclusively to the Cashmere Valley Record recently about his experiences in the Chelan County Jail while he was awaiting trial, accused in the murder of Cashmere resident Stephen Smith.
The 35-year-old cold case was suddenly reinvestigated at the behest of Smith’s family and alleged “corroborating witnesses” last year and Swaim, as well as Leavenworth resident Dawn Soles, were both charged with murder in the beginning of 2017. Soles eventually turned state’s evidence in return for a light sentence, which she has already served.
Swaim was acquitted by a jury and returned home to Sultan last fall only to find his former life was in tatters as what was once normal routine had been turned topsy-turvy because of his eight months spent in the Chelan County Jail.
Swaim said while he was incarcerated he was given “the wrong size of flip-flops.” That may sound innocuous on its surface, but Swaim eventually was injured and had “four broken toes” and claims he “was left to suffer without pain killers.”
The 60-year-old Swaim said he was also “assaulted several times” and was a victim of jailers who violated the rules of inmate rights administering such simple things as getting at least one hour out of the cell every 24 hours.
Swaim said the guards would often have 32-hour shifts and because of that he was often not given his one hour out of the cell.
He also said he was put in segregation, “the violent offender tank,” because of trying to defend himself during these violent attacks.
Swaim claims inmates were “sedated without permission with anti-depressant and anti-anxiety pills” and that some inmates smoked marijuana and literally blew the smoke into the faces of some of the jail guards without any disciplinary actions taken by the guards.
Swaim said that he never “snitched” about infractions like drugs or assault because he feared for his own safety.
“Snitches could get thrown off the second tier,” Swaim said.
He also claims that at one point in his incarceration, his defense lawyer Nick Yedinak, attempted to speak to Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett about jail issues, but “the sheriff suddenly went to Alaska.”
Swaim said the new investigation was partly instigated by “Debra Wetzel who made stuff up and twisted things and stretched the truth.”
Debra Wetzel’s main testimony involved a phone relationship she had with Swaim when she was a secretary for a different lawyer Swaim was using. Wetzel said Swaim admitted to her he had been attacked by Smith with a shotgun and that he threw a rock at him and killed him. Even though she said it scared her to hear this, defense attorney Yedinak produced a document which stated Wetzel was willing to be responsible for supervising Swaim if he were released from jail. She also claimed Swaim had told her Smith’s body would not be found.
Swaim told the CVR by phone from Sultan that, “I think she (Wetzel) is crazy and wanted to railroad me. “She wanted to marry me,” Swaim said.
Swaim sounded sometimes bitter and sometimes forgiving as his talk with the CVR also included his love and belief in God. “My pastor said God’s got a plan for me.” Swaim himself has been a prison minister for more than 10 years and wanted to do more ministry while in Chelan County custody, but wasn’t able to do much while in segregation. “It only takes about 15 minutes to minister to someone,” he said.
Swaim and his legal team were not fans of the Wenatchee World coverage of the trial, which he said were biased against him. He said “I appreciated the fair coverage given me by the Cashmere Valley Record, which is why I am willing to talk with you.”
For more on Bernard Swaim’s allegations about his murder trial, the legal system and his treatment in the Chelan County Jail, be sure to read the next installment of “Swaim speaks” in a future Cashmere Valley Record.
Editor’s Note: The Chelan County Jail, Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney will be offered an opportunity to comment on Swaim’s allegations, however to be fair, per standard operating procedures, ongoing investigations are normally not commented on by anyone in any law enforcement or public legal positions.