Suspect in child rape case appears in court

A convicted sex offender accused of raping a 9-year-old boy made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court.

Carsie J. Tikka, 36, of Spokane appeared on suspicion of two counts of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation stemming from the abuse, which was reported in January. Tikka was reportedly a friend of the victim’s family.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Vancouver police were called Jan. 6 to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center to pick up a sexual assault kit and were notified that the victim had told medical staff that he had been raped three times by Tikka between Jan. 1 and Jan. 5, while visiting a residence in northwest Vancouver.

In an interview, the boy said the first time something happened between him and Tikka was when he was 8 years old. He told police that Tikka had molested him on more than one occasion, the affidavit said.

A warrant was issued for Tikka’s arrest on May 27. He was arrested Wednesday.

Court records show that Tikka pleaded guilty in 1999 to attempted first-degree child molestation in Clark County. He was sentenced to four years in prison. Tikka also was convicted in 2005 of failing to register as a sex offender. He was acquitted in 2008 of another charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

During Tikka’s court appearance, Judge Derek Vanderwood set Tikka’s bail at $500,000 and appointed defense attorney Erin McAleer to represent him.

He will be arraigned July 7.