A Sweet Springs man is facing 20 different charges of sexual offenses against a minor.

Gary Anthony Cooper was arrested Friday, Jan. 17 by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office on charges that he sodomized and attempted to rape his stepdaughter. According to court filings, the victim told investigators that Cooper repeatedly touched her inappropriately as she slept in her bedroom at the family’s residence in Emma, beginning when the victim was nine or ten years old. The probable cause statement goes on to allege that the inappropriate contact continued when the family moved to Sweet Springs in 2017. Documents add that the victim accused Cooper of twice attempting to rape her. The Saline County Sheriff’s Department began investigating the case in October.

Cooper has been charged with two counts of attempted rape, eight counts of sodomy, and ten counts of incest. His bond is set at $500,000 cash only. He’s scheduled to make his initial appearance Wednesday morning in a Saline County courtroom.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, the Missouri Department of Social Services maintains a 24/7 toll-free Child Abuse and Neglect hotline at 1-800-392-3738.  Additional resources are available on the DSS’ website.