COEUR d'ALENE - A jury on Tuesday heard opening statements in a sexual abuse and lewd conduct case involving nine alleged victims - all girls age 13 and younger - and a 35-year-old man who could be sentenced up to life in prison if found guilty.

Robert Del Critchfield, who is not currently in custody, has been charged with multiple felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor and sexual abuse of a child. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

"There are two stories here," Critchfield's defense attorney, James Siebe, told the jury at the Kootenai County Courthouse.

Siebe said he plans to call Critchfield's son and daughter and neighbors as witnesses. Siebe said they'll testify to "Bob's" good character and how he wouldn't have done what he's accused of doing.

"He's someone who's honest," Siebe said.

He called the allegations "ludicrous."

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Marty Raap, speaking to the jury, said some of the girls will testify that Critchfield grabbed sensitive areas of their bodies, showed them pornography on his computer and camera, and touched himself inappropriately in front of them.

Raap said the girls will testify about separate, though similar, incidents of abuse and lewd conduct.

He said Critchfield was home often during the daytime and kids were frequent visitors to his home in Coeur d'Alene Place.

Critchfield's own kids, a trampoline, video games and other attractions made the home a regular place for neighborhood kids to hang out, Raap said.

Siebe said that some of the neighborhood girls who are now alleged victims were kicked off the property prior to the allegations surfacing.

"Bob had rules" around the house, Siebe said. "They pushed the limits."

He described Critchfield as a father figure.

"He's not a child molester," Siebe said.

The incidents were alleged to have occurred in 2007 and continue through June 2008, when Critchfield was arrested.

Each lewd conduct count carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment, and each sexual abuse count carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

First Judicial District Court Judge Charles Hosack is presiding over the trial, which is scheduled to last 10 days.

The trial continues today as the prosecution begins calling its first witnesses.

The jury is made up of six men and eight women. Two jurors are alternates who will not deliberate to decide the case. The two will be selected at random by the court clerk just before deliberations begin.