WHEELING, W.Va. --

A Wheeling police officer is charged with four felonies after two women told investigators he sexually assaulted them.

Matthew D. Kotson, 31, is charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault. Kotson has been on the force for eight years.

The case started about a week ago, when a woman said Kotson sexually abused her on Thanksgiving. West Virginia State Police said they were ready to issue a warrant for Kotson's arrest when they received a call that Kotson was close to St. Vincent de Paul School in Elm Grove. He was arrested near the school around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to a criminal complaint, Kotson is accused of engaging in "sexual intrusion with another person without the person's consent, and the lack of consent results from forcible compulsion."

The complaint states that on Nov. 24, a woman told Wheeling police that Kotson came to her home earlier and she let him in. She said Kotson sexually assaulted her inside her home and she tried to get away.

The next day, Kotson admitted to police that he was at the woman's residence and admitted to touching her in a sexual manner, the complaint states.

During the investigation, police interviewed several women who had relationships with Kotson. The complaint states, "All of the females interviewed expressed the defendant's persistent and aggressive sexual advances on different occasions."

One of the women told police that on three occasions in Ohio County, Kotson "had forcible sexual intercourse with her by holding her down." The woman reported that her juvenile daughter was present during one of the assaults, and the woman told Kotson on each occasion that she did not want to have sex with him.

On Thursday, Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny declined to comment on the charges and would not release the officer's name, referring all questions about the criminal investigation to the West Virginia State Police.

However, Matheny said the officer has been on unpaid leave since last week and had been the subject of "disciplinary procedures" since then. Matheny also emphasized that the allegations are unrelated to the officer's on-duty work and said his "concerns are for the alleged victims."

"This is an isolated incident," said Matheny. "It doesn't reflect the professionalism of the officers of this department."

Kotson was arraigned by Magistrate Patty Murphy and posted $40,000 bond, but was never sent to jail.

Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith recused himself from the case and officials said a special prosecutor will be appointed. Officials said it could take some time before Kotson appears in court, as the investigation is ongoing.

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