John Tilley, Former Kentucky Justice Secretary and Lawmaker Charged With Rape

A former Kentucky lawmaker who oversaw state police and departments of corrections and juvenile justice has been charged with rape.

Former Democratic state Rep. John Tilley, who oversaw Kentucky’s state prison system under former Gov. Matt Bevin, has been charged with first-degree rape.

Tilley allegedly had sex with a woman in a Lexington hotel while she was unable to give consent, because she was too drunk, according to a Daily Mail report.

The alleged rape reportedly occurred April 15 but no charges were filed until Monday.

The Courier Journal further reported:

A spokesperson for the Lexington Police Department told The Courier Journal Tilley was charged Monday morning “regarding a Special Victims Investigation that occurred this year.”

“At this time, it is still an ongoing investigation,” police spokesperson Hannah Sloan said.

Tilley, 53, was being held Monday morning at the Lexington-Fayette County jail, according to the detention center’s online database.

He was released late that day after posting a $25,000 bond, and his arraignment hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Fayette District Court.

Tilley’s attorneys, Steve Schroering and Chris Spedding, say their client is innocent of the charge and turned himself in to investigators in Lexington Monday morning.

“John Tilley maintains his innocence of the criminal charges and has cooperated with the investigation,” Schroering said. “He respects the judicial process and has no further comment at this time.”

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.

First-degree rape is considered a Class B felony in Kentucky, carrying a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years. If the victim is under 12 or is seriously injured by the rapist, the crime is elevated to a Class A felony with sentences exceeding 20 years.