OAK HILL — An Oak Hill man was arrested last week for allegedly performing sex acts with two 14-year-old girls.

James Wolford, 36, of 1579 State Route 140, was taken into custody by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office on March 11 at his residence, where the acts allegedly took place, which is just inside the Lawrence County line.

According to Detective Aaron Bollinger, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident to his office on Feb. 25.

“They had two juvenile girls that live in Jackson County that reported having intercourse with this James Wolford,” Bollinger said. “He is the boyfriend of their friend’s mother.”

Children’s services were also notified, he said.

Bollinger said he, along with Children’s Protective Services workers, met with the girls’ friend, with whom Wolford was also accused of having sex, and she denied the allegations.

Following interviews and examinations of the two reporting juveniles at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Bollinger returned to speak to the third juvenile another time.

“During that interview she went on to admit to the incident as well, with at least one of the other girls who made the allegation,” Bollinger said. “She admitted she was a witness as well. … They would go to the house and drink and some sex acts would occur.”

Based on the new statement, Bollinger said Wolford was arrested. He also said the man denied the allegations during an interview.

Wolford was charged with first-degree rape and third-degree unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The man was arraigned in Ironton Municipal Court on March 12 and a $100,000 bond was set. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday.