A Democratic former Kentucky state representative has been arrested and charged with first-degree rape, according to reports.
Ex-state Rep. John Tilley was booked Monday morning into Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Community Corrections.
Tilley oversaw Kentucky’s state prison system under former Gov. Matt Bevin (R).
“Mr. Tilley maintains his innocence of the criminal charges and has fully cooperated with the investigation,” said attorney Steve Schroering.
“He respects the judicial process and will have no further comment at this time.”
Tilley was elected to five terms as a Democratic state legislator from Hopkinsville.
He served as chairman of the legislature’s House Judiciary Committee.
The citation claims Tilley had sex with a victim who could not consent because they were intoxicated.
Tilley turned himself in to authorities yesterday morning.
John Tilley, 53, turned himself in on Monday. He served as Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary from December 2015 through 2019. https://t.co/Mov13kgno5
— WHAS11 News (@WHAS11) August 8, 2022
He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.
His arraignment hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Fayette District Court.
The alleged rape occurred on April 15.
A spokesperson for the Lexington Police Department said Tilley was charged Monday morning “regarding a Special Victims Investigation that occurred this year.”
“At this time, it is still an ongoing investigation,” spokesperson Hannah Sloan said.
Former Kentucky justice secretary and legislator John Tilley posted his $25,000 bond late last night, has arraignment hearing for his first-degree rape charge at 1pm today: https://t.co/h0LaAN4NQB via @courierjournal
— Joe Sonka 😐 (@joesonka) August 9, 2022
According to The Courier-Journal.
Tilley spent four years working as secretary of Kentucky’s Justice and Public Safety Cabinet during Bevin’s term as governor from December 2015 through 2019.
In that role, Tilley oversaw the Kentucky State Police and the state departments of corrections and juvenile justice, among other government operations.
