A man accused of sex crimes died at a hospital after he hanged himself in the Belmont County Jail on Tuesday, officials said.

James Chaplin, 52, was in jail on charges of two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition and two counts of corrupting another with drugs.

Officials said Chaplin was still alive when they found him hanging at the jail. He was transported to East Ohio Regional Hospital then airlifted by medical helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he died.

Investigators said they had traced Chaplin’s alleged victims back to the 1970s. They said the alleged incidents all involved boys, and the acts happened in different states and a foreign country.

Chaplin had an initial appearance in Eastern Division Court in November and his bond was set at $1 million.

Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage.

-PREVIOUS STORY: Investigators seek public's help prosecuting 'serial child sex-abuse case'

-PREVIOUS STORY: Belmont Co. man charged with 2 counts of rape