A Slater man has entered a not guilty plea to a rape charge.

32-year-old Thomas Lee Gibbs Jr entered the plea Monday, July 28 in Saline County Circuit Court during his formal arraignment. Gibbs is accused of raping a girl who was less than 12 years old at the time of the incident, believed to have happened in a Gilliam apartment between 2014 and 2016. According to a probable cause statement, the victim told investigators at a Columbia children’s emergency shelter in April 2024 that her mother would allow different men to abuse her in exchange for drugs. During an investigation by the Pettis/Cooper County Children’s Division, the victim recounted an incident at the apartment in Gilliam where she, her younger brother and mother had lived. The victim then accused Gibbs of assaulting her while she was watching cartoons.

Gibbs was arrested in May and remains behind bars on a $250,000, cash-only bond. His next hearing is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 22.

If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, you’re strongly encouraged to call the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect hotline at 800-392-3738. You can also make a report through the Department of Social Services’ website.