SALINA (KS)
KWCH-TV, CBS-12 [Wichita KS]
July 24, 2026
By Matt Heilman
Father Ryan McCandless is in custody in Republic County following his transfer from the Sedgwick County Jail.
Jail records from Republic County show a Kansas priest accused of child sex crimes is in custody in Belleville following his transfer from the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita.
The KBI arrested Father Ryan McCandless on Wednesday on a warrant for three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The arrest happened at a Wichita home.
The alleged crimes happened between last July and September in Belleville, the KBI said. The agency noted that the Diocese of Salina suspended McCandless from ministry after being made aware of the allegations against him.
McCandless had most recently been the pastor of three parishes in Republic County: St. Edward Parish in Belleville, St. George Parish in Munden, and St. Isidore Parish in Cuba, Kansas. He also previously served parishes in Hays, Manhattan, Mankato, Concordia, and Esbon (Jewell County).
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.