Ferndale man accused of rape brought back from Canada by law enforcement

A Ferndale man accused of raping his girlfriend's daughter for years and fleeing across the Canadian border has been sent back to the United States

In early July, the 18-year-old victim reported the alleged abuse to Ferndale police, according to court documents filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. She said the abuse lasted about 10 years and began when she, her mother and the suspect lived together in Las Vegas.

The three moved to Bellingham in 2017 and the alleged abuse escalated, according to court documents.

According to court documents, the 37-year-old suspect also allegedly gave the victim drugs and alcohol to further the abuse.

Probable cause was determined to charge the suspect with one count of first-degree child molestation, one count of second-degree child molestation, one count of first-degree rape and distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age.

However, before Bellingham police officers could arrest the suspect in late July, he allegedly fled to Canada, said Megan Peters, the Bellingham police public information officer. An arrest warrant was issued for him on August 12 when investigators and prosecutors learned he had fled the country.

Law enforcement agents from the Canada Border Services Agency located the suspect on Aug. 27 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Peters said. The suspect went through the legal process in Canada and was expelled from the country on Tuesday, October 1st.

Bellingham police took the suspect into custody at the border and he was booked into the Whatcom County Jail, Peters said.

The suspect will make his first court appearance on Wednesday, October 3rd.

Annie Todd is a CDN criminal justice and corporate reporter. reach her at [email protected]; 360-922-3090 ext 130.