Cape man charged with sex crimes

A Cape Girardeau man has been charged in Scott City with fourth-degree child molestation and possession of child pornography.

Joseph Ray Hogeland, 21, told Scott City police that he had been seeing “his girlfriend” for about a month, according to a probable cause statement signed by a police officer. Police had obtained Facebook Messenger communications, the document showed. Hogeland told police he touched the girl inappropriately in the backseat of a vehicle.

A news release issued by Scott City police chief Chris Griggs stated that the girl was younger than 17 years old. A fourth-degree child molestation charge requires the abuser to be more than 4 years older than the victim.

The officer read the Missouri law for fourth-degree molestation, and Hogeland “stated that he made a mistake and knew he was wrong”, according to the document. Hogeland allegedly also had a photo of the girl in her underwear on his phone, which prompted charges of possession of child pornography.

The molestation charge is a Class E felony. The possession of child pornography charge is a Class D felony.