Lewistown man facing child molestation, sodomy, sexual abuse charges

LEWISTOWN, Mo. — A Lewistown man was arrested and jailed after an investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department conducted a child abuse investigation.

Joshua A. Campbell, 30, was arrested Jan. 26. He was formally charged by Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Chelsea Fellinger with three counts of child molestation of a child younger than 12 years old in the second degree, one count of statutory sodomy of someone younger than 14 years old in the first degree and one count of sexual abuse of someone younger than 14 years old in the first degree.

The sodomy and child molestation charges are Class B felonies. The sentencing range for a person found guilty of a Class B felony is five to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Correctiions.

Judge Corey Moon issued a warrant for Campbell with no bond authorized. Campbell is incarcerated in the Lewis County Jail.

The investigation was primarily conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control, with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office assisting.

A probable cause statement filed Jan. 26 by Trooper T. Kirk Hendershott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol says Campbell committed his crimes between May 2022 and August 2023. A forensic interview was conducted on Nov. 6 regarding the allegations of child molestation at Campbell’s residence.

During the interview, a girl said she had been touched on her body on a place she did not like. The girl said she had, pointing out Campbell used her hands to touch her nipples, belly button, butt and “no-no square” — which she identified as the front genitalia of both the male and female anatomy. She said Campbell took off her clothes and touched her with his hands and private parts. Campbell also told the girl not to tell anyone. The girl said these encounters happened in Campbell’s residence in his upstairs bedroom.

Campbell completed a polygraph examination on Jan. 25 at Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B headquarters in Macon. He admitted the allegations and described multiple occasions during which he committed the offenses. He described touching, licking and sucking on female genitalia.

Campbell made his initial appearance in Lewis County Circuit Court by video on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Moon denied a request for a bond change and encouraged Campbell to apply for public defender services.