Sunday school teacher accused of molesting girl

VANCOUVER, Wash. - A man has been arrested for allegedly molesting a young girl in Sunday school.

Ryan Whitaker, who practices family law in downtown Vancouver, was arrested at his law firm Tuesday after a 9-year-old girl said he sexually abused her many times during church.

Whitaker was in court Wednesday morning to answer to the child molestation and rape charges against him, although he told the judge he doesn't know who the victim is.

Because Whitaker is an attorney and has appeared before judges in Clark County, the judge told him it’s likely a visiting judge from Cowlitz or Skamania counties will have to take his case.

The crimes allegedly happened at a LDS church in Northeast Vancouver. The girl told her parents and her bishop that her Sunday school teacher touched her in inappropriate ways several times between February and September.

One witness at the Mormon church even told detectives he noticed Whitaker paid special attention to this girl in particular.

Whitaker's bail was set at $20,000.

Calls to the church and his law office were not answered Wednesday.