A jury trial is scheduled in mid-October for the Slater man accused of raping a juvenile over a decade ago.

32-year-old Thomas Lee Gibbs Jr will go on trial the week of Oct. 14 on a single charge, accusing him of assaulting a girl less than 12 years old in a Gilliam apartment.  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 that she says occurred between 2014 and 2016 at the Gilliam apartment 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 pleaded not guilty to the charge in July. He remains in the Saline County Jail on a $250,000, cash-only bond. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for mid-September.

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.