A former teacher at Miller County R-3 in Tuscumbia, who has been working in a school district in Camden County, has been charged with sexual misconduct with a student while he was working in Tuscumbia.
Joseph Rice IV, 35, of Macks Creek, was charged with one count of second-degree sexual misconduct for soliciting explicit photographs and sexual contact from a former 16-year-old female student, according to the Miller County Sheriff's Department.
The victim, who lives in Iberia, spoke with investigators in December and again this week, according to a Miller County Sheriff's Department probable cause statement. She said this began in May when she and Rice, her former teacher, began flirting with her on Snapchat. She was 16 and a sophomore at the time.
Messages which contained comments from Rice about wanting to perform sexual acts with the victim, continued for several months until September, when Rice asked the victim to send nude photos of herself to him. The victim said she felt threatened, as Rice would tell her that if she didn't send the pictures "something will happen," but he didn't specify what that meant.
Eventually the victim sent six partially nude photos of herself to Rice. Rice, in turn, sent her pictures of his genitals.
Later that month, Rice sent the victim a message asking that he pick her up after a school softball game and take her somewhere to have sex. The victim quit responding to Rice after this message.
Miller County authorities said Rice is married and has children.
He was released from custody on $200,000 bond and ordered not to have any contact with the victim.