Bellingham man suspected of raping, strangling transient man he met at Whatcom casino
UPDATE MAY 24, 2022: Whatcom County Superior Court documents show all charges against Nicholas John Cetto in this incident were dismissed without prejudice on May 11, 2022, after the state moved to dismiss due to an inability to locate the defendant.
A Bellingham man is suspected offering to pay a transient man he met at a casino for sexual acts and then raping, strangling and preventing him from leaving once he got him to his home last month.
Bellingham Police booked Nicholas John Cetto, 32, into Whatcom County Jail July 14 on suspicion of third-degree rape, second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment. Jail records show Cetto was released later that day on $25,000 bail.
According to Whatcom County Superior Court documents, the victim told police:
▪ He met Cetto at approximately 7:45 p.m. June 22 at a slot machine at the Silver Reef Casino. During a conversation, the victim revealed that he was homeless, and Cetto offered to take the victim to his home for a shower, a meal and to do a load of laundry. When the victim ran out of money at the slot machine, Cetto offered to pay the victim to get drinks from the bar.
▪ The two began talking about money for sex acts, though no amounts were agreed to, and the victim performed sex acts at the casino and in Cetto’s car before they went to Cetto’s home, documents state.
▪ At Cetto’s home an agreement was made for $200 for another sex act. Cetto then wanted to use restraints, which the victim refused. When Cetto did not get what he wanted, he became frustrated and grabbed the victim by the throat and eventually performed unwanted sexual acts on him.
▪ The victim texted “911” to friends he was staying with, who called him back and learned that the victim needed help.
▪ When his friends arrived, the victim attempted to leave, but Cetto blocked the door and locked it. The two fought and Cetto again strangled the victim before the victim managed to get out of the home.
The victim’s friends reported seeing Cetto strangling the victim through a sliding glass door when they arrived and that they tried to break down the front door to save their friend, court documents state, and a witness reported seeing Cetto fighting with a man on the porch.
The victim was taken by his friends to the hospital for injuries suffered in the incident, documents state, and Cetto also was kicked in the head when the victim’s friends tried to free him from Cetto’s grasp.
Cetto told police that he and the victim met at the casino and engaged in consensual sex, but that while they were at his house, the victim had attempted to steal his wallet and leave, prompting the fight, documents state. But police found Cetto’s wallet, keys and casino player’s card on the counter “all situated in a orderly fashion,” court documents state.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program/
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
This story was originally published July 24, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
