Former volunteer Bible study teacher arrested for sexual assault of children

Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Colorado Springs Police Department posted a notice on Thursday, June 2, 2022 announcing that 63-year-old Carlton Ranquist had been arrested in Albans, Maine and extradited to Colorado Springs on charges that he had sexually abused at least two children between 2008 and 2015.

According to their statement the CSPD Special Victims detectives are actively seeking anyone with additional information about the case, or that may have been, or know of, any additional victims. They are asking that anyone with such information contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000.

The investigation into Ranquist began in July 2021 after the Crimes Against Children Unit was notified of a possible sexual assault on a child that took place between 2015 and 2017.

The affidavit, obtained by KOAA, outlined that police spoke with a 15-year-old girl who told them that she had been sexually assaulted by Ranquist at his residence. She told investigators that he would take nude images of her and would physically remove her clothing to do so.

Additionally, she disclosed that between the ages of 9 and 12-years-old, Ranquist would reportedly show her child pornography and force her to perform sex acts. She reported that she was then molested by Ranquist as often as five to eight times a month.

During their investigation into this report a second victim was identified who is believed to have been assaulted between 2008 and 2010.

The second victim was identified as a male that is now 23-years-old. He was between 8 and 13 at the time of the sexual assault and disclosed that he had met Ranquist through church. He spoke with investigators and alleged that Ranquist had disclosed to him sexual assault of multiple younger females before him.

In 2013, while residing in Colorado Springs, Ranquist volunteered as a Bible study teacher at the Colorado Springs Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

The arrest warrant for Ranquist was issued on April 13, 2022, and he was successfully taken into custody on April 20, 2022 by the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

At this time Ranquist is in custody at the El Paso County Jail on two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Ranquist is scheduled to appear in court on June 24, 2022 and again on June 28, 2022 for a preliminary hearing.