W.P. man accused of violent sexual assault

A West Plains man arrested last week has been charged with multiple felonies involving the alleged sexual assault of his fiancé. Danny Tyler Phipps, age 43, is being held in the Howell County Jail on a $100,000 corporate surety bond.

 

West Plains Police responded to a residence on Johnson Street shortly after 3 am on October 27 for a report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers located the female victim, who was described in court documents as having a large bump on her forehead and was bleeding from her face, mouth, arms, legs, and feet. The victim allegedly told police she had been held against her will by Phipps for one to two hours within her residence, according to court documents. She claimed to police that the suspect choked her repeatedly and she was unable to breathe. The victim said that when she made noise or attempted to scream, Phipps would cover her mouth and threatened to kill her on multiple occasions if she made noise.

 

The victim said she had been sexually assaulted by Phipps with an object while she pleaded with him to stop. She described to police her attempt to flee from the residence, nude and bleeding, and was allegedly chased down by Phipps. After being caught, the victim alleges the suspect pulled her down by the hair of her head and dragged her across the ground and roadway while she fought back. Ultimately, she escaped to a neighbor's home and contacted law enforcement.

 

Officers attempted to make contact with Phipps at the residence, who refused to exit despite verbal commands from law enforcement to do so. He then fled the residence on foot before being caught by police. Sergeant Joshua Wichowski says in the probable cause statement that Phipps later resisted officers who were attempting to take him into custody by bracing and pulling away, running, and trying to scratch officers.

 

A post-Miranda interview was conducted on Phipps later that day. In the interview, the suspect said he had been very intoxicated the night before and was ashamed of his actions. Phipps acknowledged the “sexual encounter” with the victim, his refusal to stop after the victim told him to, chasing the victim, and choking her.

 

Phipps faces two counts of felony sodomy or attempted sodomy – first degree – aggravated sexual offense, three counts of felony kidnapping – facilitating a felony – inflicting injury – terrorizing – first degree, one count of domestic assault – first degree – serious physical injury and one count of resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony.

 

Phipps pleaded not guilty before the court on Oct. 28. The following day, the state requested a bond of $250,000 and the defense asked for a bond of $50,000. Judge Robert Ray set the bond at $100,000 corporate surety only with the special condition of no contact with the victim or witnesses. A criminal setting has been scheduled for November 13, 2024.