The Jasper Police Department arrested a Carthage man Tuesday on a Jackson County warrant for child molestation and statutory sodomy.
According to a post on the Jasper Police Facebook page, Joshua Garber (DOB 1983) was found hiding behind a dresser while a home was being searched as part of a drug investigation.
A warrant for Garber’s arrest was issued in August 2023, with the probable cause saying Garber had molested a girl a few years earlier when she was a first grader, telling her to “never let a boy or a man touch you like that.”
The child said that after Garber touched her, he would put his hand down his pants.
When the girl went running to her mother after one of the alleged incidents and told her mother about it. The mother confronted Garber who told her, “You know I get handsy in my sleep,” the probable cause statement said.
The statement says Garber has a history of drug use.
The Jasper Police Department Facebook page featured this account of Tuesday’s arrest:
On Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 at 1404 hours, Jasper PD officers made contact with subjects at 307. E. Grand Ave., Jasper, Mo, in reference to a drug investigation.
Upon arrival, we made contact with Darrell Thomason, who is the resident of the above address.
Upon search of the residence, meth related drug paraphernalia was located, as well as a subject hiding behind a dresser… Subject was identified as Joshua Garber.
Garber had active felony warrants out of Jackson County, Mo for 2nd degree assault and child molestation.
Garber was taken into custody and transported the the Jasper County jail where he was held on the active warrants and possession of meth related drug paraphernalia.
Thomason was arrested for possession of meth related drug paraphernalia and transported to the Jasper County jail.
This residence has had several incidents where drug related arrests were made over the past 10 years. Due to the gross house conditions and the many drug related incidents, charges for “maintaining a nuisance” will be submitted to the Jasper County Prosecutor’s office.
This law was used in 2017 where Sharon’s restaurant was closed and the owner arrested due to many theft incidents and drug related arrests were made.
Originally appeared on The Turner Report
For more coverage of southwest Missouri and former Carthage Press Managing Editor Randy Turner’s daily column, sign up for the Turner Report Newsletter by e-mailing [email protected].
