AMHERST — One year after his son was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two children, an Amherst father is facing similar charges accusing him of repeatedly sexually assaulting three girls more than 20 years ago.

On Thursday, local police arrested James Hillsgrove, 65, of 41 Stearns Road, charging him with 23 felony counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. Hillsgrove allegedly assaulted three girls — ages 8, 10 and 12 — during the summer of 1990, according to police.

“They are very serious allegations,” Police Chief Peter Lyon said of the charges.

Authorities opened an investigation after the three victims came forward together a few weeks ago, jointly reporting that Hillsgrove allegedly repeatedly assaulted them 22 years ago at a local residence.

Lyon would not elaborate on where the assaults took place, stressing the importance of keeping the identity of the victims, now adults, private. He did explain, however, that the crimes occurred as separate incidents, and that the girls were not together during the alleged assaults.

The victims knew Hillsgrove, but are not related to him, according to police.

“It is not that unusual,” Lyon said of the 22-year delay in reporting the assaults. He explained it is not uncommon for sexual assault victims to come forward decades after the offenses, especially if they occurred when the victims were children.

What may be unusual, however, is that Hillsgrove's son, Jeffrey Hillsgrove, was arrested more than a year ago on similar charges alleging he sexually assaulted two children in nearby Milford.

Jeffrey Hillsgrove, 34, also of 41 Stearns Road, has been indicted on 24 counts of charges ranging from aggravated felonious sexual assault, felonious sexual assault, attempted felonious sexual assault and indecent exposure and lewdness.

The younger Hillsgrove, according to court documents, is accused of sexually assaulting two girls between the ages of 6 and 11 between 2008 and 2011. One of the victims was allegedly assaulted multiple times on her seventh birthday in 2008, according to court records on file at Hillsborough County Superior Court.

“It doesn't get much more serious,” Capt. Chris Nervik of the Milford Police Department said of the allegations against Jeffrey Hillsgrove.

Police allege the younger Hillsgrove exposed himself to the two girls, and repeatedly fondled and inappropriately touched them.

Nervik would not comment on the connection between the father-and-son cases, maintaining that they are separate investigations in different municipalities.

Lyon agreed, saying there are different victims in each case, and that each investigation is being handled independently. Neither would Lyon comment on the correlation between the crimes allegedly inflicted by the father and son duo.

James Hillsgrove, the father, is free on $10,000 personal recognizance bail.

Jeffrey Hillsgrove, the son, was temporarily held on $50,000 bail following his arrest last year.

However, he was freed when bail was reduced to $25,000 cash and Bonnie Hillsgrove was able to post bail for him. Calls to the Hillsgrove household on Monday went unanswered.

What's next: Hillsgrove is free on $10,000 personal recognizance bail with arraignment set for Aug. 30 in 9th Circuit Court, Milford District.

khoughton@newstote.com