HONOLULU -- Police in Honolulu said they have arrested a math professor at the University of Hawaii after he was accused of sexual assault.

David Stegenga, 63, was arrested on the UH Manoa campus at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday on charges of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault in connection with allegations that he repeatedly assaulted a daughter of close family members who lived on the same street as Stegenga, authorities said.

Stegenga and his wife live in a Keolu home on the windward side. According to court papers, his alleged victim lives a few doors down and across the street, KITV's Keoki Kerr reported. Court records showed that a temporary restraining order was issued against Stegenga on Sept. 10 on a harassment claim.

According to the temporary restraining order, the girl's family claimed Stegenga sexually assaulted her from 1999, when she was 7, to 2005, when she was 13 years old. The family claims the sexual assaults took place at their home and at Stegenga's home.

They described themselves as close family friends with Stegenga and his wife, and shared dinners together on holidays. They said the Stegengas watched their pets when they traveled on vacation and had keys to their house.

The family's temporary restraining order petition claimed Stegenga "coerced her to keep secret. She has finally realized what he did to her and come forward."

"It's hard to believe that someone that seems so friendly and upstanding in the community can be accused of something like that. I hope it's not true," said Fran Hackbarth, a neighbor.

Stegenga has been a professor at UH since 1980, and currently teaches two classes, KITV reported. He won a departmental excellence in teaching award in May. University officials said his classes will be covered by another instructor until further notice.

He's also an animal advocate who was president of the Honolulu Zoo Society until a few months ago, when he stepped down and resigned from the board.

Neighbors described the Stegengas as a loving couple who take in injured birds and walk neighbors' dogs.

"I was really very surprised because he's very friendly and takes care of animals all the time, and (is) walking his dog and all and always saying hi," Hackbarth said.

Bail was set at $500,000, which Stegenga posted later in the evening.