CHILDREN WILL REMAIN IN HOME OF ACCUSED

TIMES STAFF

Children will remain in home of accused

-- PORT ANGELES

A Jefferson County judge hearing a Clallam County case has refused to order the removal of three adopted children from the home of a Port Angeles attorney accused of molesting his 12-year-old foster daughter

Visiting Judge William Howard made the ruling Friday in a case involving attorney Theadore Ripley, who has been charged with second-degree statutory rape of his blind Guatemalan foster daughter.

Ripley, 46, is free on personal recognizance. He and his wife, Merrily Ripley, run an adoption agency in their home and have adopted 18 children.

Ripley, who along with his wife has been widely recognized for work with adopted children, was arrested last week. The attorney has denied the charge.