Former coach arrested in rapes
Published 9:00 pm Monday, December 8, 2003
LYNNWOOD — A youth basketball coach has been arrested for allegedly raping two former players.
The girls were on teams the Brier man, 44, coached for the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said Monday.
The girls told police the man raped them four to five years ago at his home, Jorgensen said. They were both 9 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, she said.
The girls, who don’t know each other, told a mutual friend about the alleged rapes about a month ago, Jorgensen said. The friend went to police.
"They were very secretive about it until recently. I think they became very concerned it could happen to someone else," Jorgensen said, adding police are concerned that there might be additional victims.
The man was the coach for other young girls basketball teams with the Lynnwood Tigers Youth Sports League at the time of his arrest, Jorgensen said.
No one from the organization agreed to speak to The Herald.
"If there are others, we encourage them to come forward," Jorgensen said. "It’s time for parents to have a family conference if their children had him as a coach."
The man, who, following company policy, will not be named by The Herald until he is charged in court, has not been active in the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club for four years, according to a statement released from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County.
He underwent a background check and had no previous record, according to the statement.
The Brier man was arrested Friday at the Snohomish County courthouse, where he was to appear for a custody hearing, Jorgensen said. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree rape of a child and child molestation.
He posted bail and was released from jail Monday.
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate and is asking anyone with information to call the tip line at 425-388-3845.
Reporter Diana Hefley:
425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
