According to Oneida County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy…

According to Oneida County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Child Advocacy Center(CAC), a Rome man was arrested on October 11, 2025 as the result of a CAC Investigation. On October 4, 2025 the Rome Police Department received a report of sexual abuse against a child. Due to the nature of the allegations, the case was turned over to the Child Advocacy Center for further investigation and was then assigned to OCSO Investigator Travis Kinderman, who is assigned at the CAC. Through investigation, it was learned that Joseph Mickle, age 39, had subjected a female child less than fifteen years of age to sexual contact, in the City of Rome, in September of 2025.

On October 11, 2025 Inv. Kinderman and OCSO Sergeant Melissa Bolton, located Mickle at a residence in the Town of Boonville. Mickle was arrested and charged with one count of Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony. Mickle was then transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building, where he was processed and subsequently turned over to corrections staff at the Oneida County Correctional Facility where he will be arraigned at Centralized Arraignment Part Court(CAP Court).

An order of protection was requested on behalf of the victim who has been offered services through the CAC.

The Child Advocacy Center was assisted by the Rome Police Department's Patrol Division and Forensic Unit.