A Kentucky lawmaker who was accused of molesting a 17-year-old girl in 2012 committed suicide Wednesday night, WDRB reported.
Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell told the outlet state Rep. Dan Johnson shot himself on a bridge in Mt. Washington, Ky.; the gun was recovered.
Gov. Matt Bevin tweeted a statement Wednesday night, saying his "heart breaks for (Johnson's) family."
According to WDRB, Johnson posted a message on his Facebook page just before 5 p.m. Wednesday that labeled the accusations reported by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting as "false . . . nothing is the way they make it out to be."
The outlet reported the post's ending included:
"9-11-2001 NYC/WTC, PTSD 24/7 16 years is a sickness that will take my life, I cannot handle it any longer. IT Has Won This Life . BUT HEAVEN IS MY HOME…."
According to court documents obtained by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, the alleged molestation took place on New Year's Eve in 2012. The alleged victim, who was 17, told authorities she was staying in a living area of the Heart of Fire City Church where Johnson was pastor, when Johnson, who had been drinking, allegedly kissed her and fondled her under her clothes.
Johnson was never criminally charged, and denied the allegations at a press conference Tuesday; the video of the press conference was posted on his Facebook page.
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