CONTENT WARNING: Child sexual abuse.

A Battle Ground man was arrested this week on suspicion of raping a child, and investigators are publicly asking for additional information because they believe there may be other victims.

According to a City of Battle Ground news release, detectives with the Battle Ground Police Department arrested Christopher Lee Morrissey, 41, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, on suspicion of Rape of a Child in the Third Degree. Police said the arrest stems from an investigation that began in 2022 involving a 14-year-old victim. Morrissey was booked into the Clark County Jail.

Police said detectives “continue to actively investigate the case” and believe there may be other people who have “relevant information, including potential additional victims,” noting Morrissey has lived in Southwest Washington for several years.

Why this matters in Cowlitz County

Battle Ground is in neighboring Clark County, but cases like this can have regional implications across Southwest Washington, including Cowlitz County, because people often live, work, and move across county lines. When investigators publicly ask for tips and warn there may be additional victims, it’s a reminder that accountability depends on community members feeling safe enough to come forward—and on systems that do not retraumatize survivors when they do.

It’s also important to keep the basic legal facts straight: an arrest is not a conviction. Police explicitly emphasized that Morrissey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

How to share information with investigators

Battle Ground police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Josh Phelps at (360) 342-5241 or by email at [email protected].

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or needs support, national resources include the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) and online chat. (https://www.rainn.org/resources)

What we’re watching next

The key next steps will be whether prosecutors file formal charges in court, whether bail is set or modified, and whether investigators identify additional victims or witnesses. We will update if additional court filings become publicly available.

Sources:

Update

  • Links to the page hosted on the City of Battleground website, where for this article information was originally sourced are no longer working. The content on the City of Battleground appears to have been removed. We will contact the City of Battleground, and continue to update this story as appropriate.