Lacey couple accused of raping adopted daughter

A Lacey husband and wife are in jail, accused of first-degree child rape after their adopted 7-year-old daughter told a school counselor that her parents had sexually abused her, court papers state.

The 7-year-old girl was adopted by the Lacey couple shortly after her birth in China, Lacey Police Lt. Jim Mack said.

The 51-year-old man and his 47-year-old wife are being held at the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of first-degree child rape.

The alleged sexual abuse occurred over a four-year period, court papers state. The husband and wife have told Lacey police that they were unaware that the other was engaging in sexual abuse of the daughter, Mack said.

"Each parent was committing the abusive acts to the girl without the other's knowledge," Mack said of what the couple have told detectives.

The child is in the custody of Child Protective Services, Mack said.