from www.wfie.com – HOPKINS CO, KY (WFIE) – Detectives are investigating whether more charges of sexual abuse should be brought against a Madisonville man.

Johnathon Brown, 35, is facing nearly 300 charges, including incest and sexual abuse of a minor after his arrest last Thursday.

Kentucky State Police say a new development in the case may mean even more charges.

Hopkins County Attorney Todd P’Pool says Brown faces over 130 counts related to child pornography. Investigators say the porn was found on Brown’s computer, and are now looking it over to see if Brown hit the send button.

P’Pool says, “If those images were transmitted over state lines or across the internet, then there could be additional charges.”

Those charges would be on top of an already 70 counts of incest and 86 counts of sexual abuse with a minor. P’Pool says those numbers show just how long the abuse was going on.

“There was an individual with a family connection that came forward, and gave the state police an idea of what could be happening.”

State police originally charged Brown with wanton endangerment after investigators say they found him in a situation at his home, that involved alcohol and someone under the age of 16.

Authorities say there was a brief stand-off with troopers after Brown threatened to get a gun. P’Pool says that’s probably because Brown knew what police would find inside his home.

“It’s one of the more significant cases that I’ve seen in my career.”

Significant, not only because of the number of incidents and the nature of the abuse, but because it could have continued, unnoticed, for much longer.

P’Pool says, “I think it’s very possible and probably that if this individual did not alert law enforcement, that this victim would continue to suffer these crimes in silence.”

Brown is in the Hopkins County Jail being held on a $5,000 bond.