The King County Prosecutor’s Office announced today the filing of charges against a Redmond youth baseball coach who is accused of sexually assaulting and taking sexually-explicit photographs of a 13-year-old boy who was a member of the coach’s baseball team.

Christopher M. Stefanik, 36, was charged today with rape of a child in the second degree, child molestation in the second degree, sexual exploitation of a minor and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. All of the charges are felonies except for communication with a minor, which is a gross misdemeanor.

If convicted as charged, the defendant could be sentenced to a minimum of 12 to 16 years in prison. The charge of rape of a child in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.

Stefanik has already posted $50,000 bail after his arrest last Sunday, but prosecutors are now requesting that the defendant be booked on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled for arraignment on September 29 in King County Superior Court.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation and anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Special Assault Unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-7557.

Dated: September 22, 2004