LYNNWOOD — A youth basketball coach resigned from his position with a local sports group about two weeks before he was arrested for allegedly raping two young girls.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday that the girls were players on teams he coached for the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club. But the sheriff’s office Tuesday said the girls, both 9 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, were not basketball players on his team.
"There was no connection between the victims and any of the suspect’s coaching activities," sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said.
The Brier man, 44, stepped down from his coaching position with Lynnwood Tigers Youth Sports, citing personal reasons, director Gene Melang said Tuesday. He had been coaching girls’ basketball with the organization for about two years.
The man was arrested Friday about a month after two girls accused him of raping them four to five years ago. Jorgensen said the alleged victims are not family members, but would not say how the man knew the girls.
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate and encourages anyone with information to call its tip line at 425-388-3845.
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