A 35-year-old Aberdeen teacher has been taken into custody on suspicion of a 2017 sexual assault in Marysville of an 11-year-old relative.

Ryan Harless was taken into custody by Aberdeen police as he left work Wednesday. Harless is an elementary teacher in the Aberdeen School District. Harless was transported from Aberdeen to the Snohomish County Jail in Everett and booked on one count of first degree rape of a child.

Marysville detective Sgt. James Maple said more needs to be done in the case.

“This is still an active investigation, and as such there are still leads to be followed,” Maples said.

Marysville police became aware of the accusations against Harless last Thursday when the victim’s mother, who still lives in Marysville, called police. The victim, who is currently living in Florida, recently disclosed the alleged assault to his mother. Meanwhile, a second relative of Harless’ has reported that he was victimized by the teacher several times between June 2004-05, when he was 11 years old and living outside Snohomish County. Additional charges from those alleged assaults are being reviewed by their prosecutor’s office. Records indicate that Harless never worked for the Maryville School District. Marysville detectives worked with Florida law enforcement and Aberdeen police on the case.