LEXINGTON, Ky. - A former Kentucky Justice Cabinet secretary and lawmaker was arrested Monday and charged with rape.
Former state Rep. John Tilley, who oversaw Kentucky's state prison system under former Gov. Matt Bevin, a Lexington hotel employee, is accused of having sex with a woman who could not consent due to her level of intoxication, according to CBS affiliate WKYT of Lexington.
Tilley, 53, was held in Lexington-Fayette County jail.
Tilley's attorney, Steve Schroering, told news outlets that his client is innocent and turned himself in.
John Tilley maintains his innocence of the criminal charges and cooperates with the investigation, Schroering said. He respects the judicial process and has no further comment at this time. Tilley served as a Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary from December 2015 to 2019, overseeing Kentucky State Police, the Department of Corrections, and other agencies.
Tilley served five terms as a Democratic state lawmaker from Hopkinsville before that.