YAKIMA -- A Yakima attorney accused of raping a young girl multiple times was released Wednesday on $50,000 bail after making his first court appearance.

Aaron Dalan, 39, was jailed this week on suspicion of first-degree child rape after police investigated a report alleging that his sexual relationship with the girl began in 2006 and continued for approximately five years.

Dalan, who was admitted to the state bar association in 1997, has spent the past several years working for the Yakima County public defender's office.

According to the arrest report, Dalan's contact with the girl mostly took place at his home in Yakima, with other incidents in the Tri-Cities and the Cle Elum area.

The allegations surfaced earlier this month when the girl, now 15, disclosed information to someone legally bound to report such claims to police or other authorities, according to the arrest report.