PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man has been charged with four counts of rape involving a child under the age of 14, according to court records filed in Greene County District Court.
Steele Kohle Ipock, 30, was arrested on August 21 following an investigation into allegations reported earlier this month. He faces four charges of rape, classified as Class Y felonies, which represent the most serious category of offenses under Arkansas law. The alleged crimes reportedly occurred on July 28, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant.
The affidavit states Paragould police initiated an investigation after receiving a report from the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline on August 11. The hotline report alleged Ipock had raped the victim.
Subsequently, investigators with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children division interviewed the victim. The child reportedly claimed that Ipock forced them to perform sexual acts on three separate occasions, with a fourth incident involving rape. According to the affidavit, the child expressed concerns about the possibility of a pregnancy.
The affidavit was signed by Detective Lt. Jack Hailey of the Paragould Police Department.
Ipock is being held on a $1 million bond, according to jail records. Court proceedings in the case are ongoing.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.