KGMI News
by Tracy Ellis
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A prominent Bellingham businessman is accused of raping a teenager, but his high-powered attorney says his client will be vindicated.
Prosecutors say Tyler Ryan raped the 13-year-old after she babysat his children in November of 2015.
He was 35 years old at the time.
Ryan is an Equity Partner & Executive Director of Financial Services at Multop Financial.
He was arrested Thursday.
Court documents say she said no, tried to resist and screamed, but he continued the assault and said if she told anyone, she would regret it.
Ryan denies the accusations.
One of his lawyers, former Washington State Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor Rob McKenna, says Tyler is innocent and will be exonerated.
McKenna says, on the advice of his attorneys, Ryan took a polygraph exam and passed. McKenna says another reason they’re convinced he’s innocent is the long period of time between the alleged incident and the accusation being made.
