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VANCOUVER, Washington (KPTV) -
A Sunday school teacher in Vancouver is accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl at their church several times, court documents say.

Ryan Whitaker, a divorce attorney with an office on Main Street in Vancouver, is facing charges of rape of a child and child molestation. The alleged abuse happened at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located on Northeast 50th Avenue.

Authorities said the victim alerted her parents and a bishop at the church. A witness also told the sheriff's office that Whitaker was seen paying special attention to the girl, the court documents said.

"You just don't know people anymore," said Whitaker's neighbor, Linda Christina.

"I don't know if it's true or not, but I am sorry to hear about it and I do feel bad for his wife also," Christina said.

A Clark County sheriff's spokesman confirmed the Child Justice Center detectives arrested Whitaker at his law office Tuesday.

In a probable cause affidavit, a deputy said the abuse happened between February and September of this year.

The Columbian newspaper first reported on the arrest Wednesday.

According to Whitaker's website, he specializes in family law and divorce cases and has been an attorney in Clark County for years.

Whitaker's office declined to comment.

Dean Barrus, stake president of the Vancouver Washington West Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, released this statement Wednesday night:

"We are saddened as a congregation by the allegations that have come forward. When they did come forward, we immediately advised the victim and her family to go to the law and we've been cooperating with them ever since. Right now we are all trying to do all that we can to get to whatever the truth is and move forward. We are praying for the young girl and her family."

"I don't know if it's true or not, but I am sorry to hear about it and I do feel bad for his wife also," Christina said.

liz3564 wrote:Hoops, I understand Drifting's comment. It is more of a commentary on LDS culture.

All our lives we are taught that callings are given based on inspiration from the Holy Ghost.

When someone who is called as a Sunday School teacher does something like this, particularly to a child, it is extremely frustrating. This also goes to my thought that all people who are called to work with kids should have to go through a background check. It isn't a perfect solution, but is more than we have in place now.

Hoops wrote:

liz3564 wrote:Hoops, I understand Drifting's comment. It is more of a commentary on LDS culture.

All our lives we are taught that callings are given based on inspiration from the Holy Ghost.

When someone who is called as a Sunday School teacher does something like this, particularly to a child, it is extremely frustrating. This also goes to my thought that all people who are called to work with kids should have to go through a background check. It isn't a perfect solution, but is more than we have in place now.

Ah, I see. Then I'll withdraw my comment and let LDS have theirs. Thank you for your patient explanation.

Hoops wrote:
What are you expecting people to comment on? Your juvenile title of the OP? Or the vileness of the OP?

Sometime around 30 CE, near Jerusalem, Jesus, the Messiah, the Holy Son of God wrote:But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

liz3564 wrote:
Does your Church have background checks in place for youth leaders?

LDSToronto wrote:
As despicable as this man is, let's as this though-provoking question - if Jesus Christ cares so much about children, then why did He not send the Holy Ghost to intervene in the calling of this sexual predator? Is Christ Himself not complicit in this terrible, terrible act? After all, look what he said!

Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, there is no continuing revelation beyond the lost keys to the car?

H.