A Baptist pastor from an interior village was arrested on charges he molested his adopted teen-age daughter

AP 4/27/99

FAIRBANKS, AK. - A Baptist pastor from an interior village was arrested on charges he molested his adopted teen-age daughter, State Troopers said.

Richard Cook, 46, is accused of having sex with the girl twice and touching her genitals often during the past 19 months, according to court documents. He has been charged with one count each of first- and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Troopers said Cook first sexually touched the victim, then 13, in Oct. 1997. Four months later, the molestation became an "almost daily" event despite the girl's protests, according to court documents.

The girl's adoptive mother, who had started working outside the home,suspected something was amiss because Cook "changed his behavior and demeanor," according to the documents. But when she questioned her husband and daughter, both denied anything was going on, troopers said. The girl attempted suicide before she reported what happened.

Troopers said Cook has since admitted to the sexual contact, stating he knew his actions were wrong but that he "just got mixed up a bit," according to documents.

He was arrested at a Fairbanks motel. Cook and the women had traveled to town to seek help, said police.