PAINTSVILLE, Ky. — A Johnson County man who was arrested last week for evidence tampering has now been charged with more than 200 counts of rape.

John Silas Ashley, 36, of Van Lear, was arrested Sept. 12, as police began investigating claims of child sexual abuse.

A minor girl told police that Ashley had been molesting her and her sister, and she had recorded video evidence on her phone, but he took the phone from her and erased it. Ashley was arrested at that time for evidence tampering, as well as fourth-degree assault, for allegedly hitting the girl multiple times in the back of the head.

On Thursday, the sexual abuse investigation resulted in Ashley being charged with one count of first-degree rape, 130 counts of second-degree rape, 70 counts of third-degree rape, and three counts of criminal abuse. Details of the allegations have not been made public.

Ashley is being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.

Mountain Top News does not identify victims of rape or sexual abuse.