In Normandy Park, Wash., police took a day care teacher into custody after the father of a 5-year-old girl walked in on him sexually abusing his daughter, reported Fox 8.

When the father walked into the classroom at Kid's Country Childcare June 5, he found the 31-year-old male teacher crouched behind a bookshelf sexually abusing his child, according to police, reported Fox affiliate KCPQ.

The teacher allegedly told the father he was having a tickle fight with the kid, but the girl later told her father that the teacher, Ian William Moore, touched her inappropriately.

The father contacted Child Protective Services, who then interviewed the child. The young girl, described as bright and articulate, told investigators she was sexually abused.

Authorities interrogated Moore, who allegedly said he touched the girl beneath her underwear, but claimed it happened accidentally, according to the Examiner.

The accused was arrested and booked into King County Jail. The teacher, who is said to have been hired at the day care after a background check, faces charges of first-degree child rape. He is expected to appear in court June 17.