WAYNE -- A 29-year-old man from Huntington was jailed this week on charges that he sexually abused three pre-teenage girls and threatened to kill his girlfriend during a boating excursion in northern Wayne County.

Kenneth Edward Maxwell Jr. faces three counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse and as many counts of misdemeanor brandishing, according to documents filed in Wayne County Magistrate Court.

Criminal complaints charge the allegations took place Sunday, while Maxwell was boating with his girlfriend and the three girls. The youths ranged in age from 12 to 13.

The father of two of the victims then reported the incident Monday night to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Each of the girls alleged Maxwell touched their genital area, according to the criminal complaints. The documents charge Maxwell touched two of the girls while they swam. Complaints charge Maxwell placed his hand down one of the girl's bathing suit, while the other victim alleged Maxwell grabbed her arms and then rubbed his penis against her.

Complaints charge Maxwell abused the remaining girl after allowing her to drive the boat. The documents state Maxwell sat down beside the girl and placed his hand on her leg, before she smacked it away. He then touched her genital area on the outside of her clothing.

The complaints charge the girls mentioned the abuse to Maxwell's girlfriend. That angered Maxwell and he sent each of the girls to a rear bedroom aboard the boat. From there, complaints charge the victims told police they observed Maxwell hit his girlfriend and brandished a handgun. Documents also charge he vocalized a threat saying, "If you all call the cops, I'll kill all of you all."

Maxwell is being held at the Western Regional Jail on a $180,000 bond. He was jailed at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday.

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Kenneth Maxwell