A 44-year-old Lynnwood man used his position as a father, neighbor and youth basketball coach to gain access to and sexually assault at least five young girls, a deputy prosecutor said Thursday.

David W. Etheridge, a former Alderwood Boys and Girls Club coach, was charged in Snohomish County Superior Court with one count of first-degree child rape and one count of first-degree child molestation. He also was charged with possession of child pornography.

Deputy prosecutor Kathy Jo Kristof said in court papers that Etheridge since 1998 has portrayed himself as an involved parent and remained active in youth club activities to become close to young girls.

Kristof said two girls were raped and three more were touched indecently, most while visiting Etheridge’s daughter. The children were between the ages of 8 and 11 when they were assaulted, Kristof said.

Some of the victims, now in their early teens, suspect that other friends also were victimized by Etheridge, Kristof said.

The victims and their families are "terrified of running into the defendant as they drive down the street, go to the grocery store and try to go about living their daily lives," Kristof said.

They may not have to worry about that again right away. Etheridge is being held in the Snohomish County Jail on $250,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.

The case started coming together on Oct. 23 when a friend told Etheridge’s daughter that two others had been molested years ago. The daughter and her brother at that time lived with their father. They now live with his ex-wife.

The children were upset, and the boy and a friend searched for evidence of child pornography, taking two computer disks to the ex-wife.

When she started proceedings to change the parenting plan, Etheridge got rid of his computer. Sheriff’s forensic experts found more than 800 images of child pornography on the disks, Kristof said.

In court documents, the deputy prosecutor details a series of alleged illicit contacts Etheridge had with friends of his daughter. Although most of the alleged assaults occurred at the Etheridge home, one neighbor girl also told authorities that Etheridge had touched her inappropriately, Kristof said. Two of the victims played on basketball teams that he coached, she added.

Etheridge told a sheriff’s detective that he wanted to cooperate fully with the investigation and didn’t think a trial would help anyone, Kristof said.

He told the officer he needed treatment, and such conduct "has been a problem that he has had to deal with for a long time," Kristof wrote. "He said he actually prayed for help, and that these things coming to light was probably an answer to his prayers."

Besides coaching for Alderwood Boys and Girls Club teams, Etheridge more recently coached for the Lynnwood Tigers Youth Sports. Both organizations said Etheridge underwent background checks before he was allowed to coach.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.