A Catholic priest in Salina is under arrest for alleged sex crimes against a child.

 

Agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation took 44-year-old Father Ryan A. McCandless of Wichita into custody on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2026, on an arrest warrant for three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The state law enforcement agency began investigating McCandless in September 2025 at the request of the Republic County Sheriff's Office. The charges allege that committed illegal acts against a 6-year-old child between July and September 2025. The Catholic Diocese of Salina suspended McCandless from ministry when they were made aware of the reported incidents.

 

Following his arrest, McCandless was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. He is soon expected to be transferred to a facility in Republic County.

 

McCandless had most recently been the pastor of three parishes in Republic County, Kansas: St. Edward Parish in Belleville, St. George Parish in Munden, and St. Isidore Parish in Cuba. Additionally, he previously served parishes in Hays, Manhattan, Mankato, Concordia and Esbon.

 

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.