Two area residents are charged with sex-related felonies involving a juvenile in Cooper County.

According to a Boonville Police report, on December 6, 2020, 43-year-old Joseph Michael Lipscomb, of Richmond, allegedly forced his 12-year-old daughter to smoke methamphetamine. Lipscomb and 17-year-old Ryan James Viles, of Hardin, are alleged to have engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with the juvenile female, as well.

Court documents say Lipscomb’s bond is set at $500,000 cash only. He is charged with Class A Felonies for Child Molestation in the First Degree and Abuse or Neglect of a Child Less Than 14 Years Old and Sexual Abuse or Exploitation; a Class E Felony for Incest; and Unclassified Felonies for Rape or Attempted Rape in the First Degree and Sodomy or Attempted Sodomy in the First Degree- Aggravated Sexual Offenses.

Viles is charged with Unclassified Felonies for Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape in the First Degree- Person Less Than 14 Years Old and Statutory Sodomy or Attempted Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree- Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Person Less Than 14 Years Old. Bond is set at $150,000 cash only.

Lipscomb was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty on February 18. His cause is continued for a counsel-status hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 2. Viles’ initial hearing is pending at Cooper County Circuit Court.