Day care teacher pleads not guilty to molestation

A teacher at a Seattle day care pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he molested a young girl.

Curtis Allen Rapp, 50, is charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation for the alleged incidents at Small Faces Child Development Center in the Crown Hill area.

The girl, now 9, reported the alleged abuse to her grandmother, saying that Rapp held her on his lap and tickled her, first over and then under her clothing, police said. She told investigators it happened three times when she was 7 and 8.

She also said he did it to two other girls at the day care. Both girls acknowledged that he tickled them but denied sexual abuse, according to court papers. Seattle police are continuing to investigate.

Rapp was placed on leave March 2.

He has a degree in music education and more than 25 years experience working with children, according to the day care's Web site, where he is listed as "the Lead Teacher in the Challenge Program since 2000."

Day care officials had no comment.