Bellingham man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting six women, several of whom were children at time
A Bellingham man accused in four separate cases of sexually assaulting six women, several of whom were children at the time, has pleaded guilty to multiple sex crimes.
Clayton Evan Cummings, 30, pleaded guilty May 19 in Whatcom County Superior Court to three counts of first-degree child molestation, three counts of third-degree rape and one count of second-degree assault (domestic violence), according to Whatcom County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kellen Kooistra.
Cummings was previously charged with 16 felonies across four cases, including multiple counts of first-degree child molestation, multiple counts of third-degree rape, first-degree child rape and second-degree assault, according to court records.
Cummings had started a jury trial this week in one of his cases and witnesses had begun testifying, but early Thursday Cummings announced he wanted to accept a plea deal.
The deal consolidates and resolves all four of Cummings’ cases, Kooistra said.
Cummings’ sentencing hearing has not yet been set, court records show.
Cummings was first arrested in early March 2019 for sexually assaulting three women. Two of the victims, who are now adults, told police they were between the ages of 6 and 10 when Cummings assaulted them. Cummings raped the third woman at least four times, court records state.
Days later, Cummings was charged in a second case for raping a fourth woman while she slept. Cummings sexually assaulted the woman multiple times and on one occasion, hit her in the face and strangled her until she almost lost consciousness, the records show.
A fifth woman came forward and told police Cummings molested her when she was between 6 and 8 years old. Cummings had told the victim it was “their secret game,” court records state.
Cummings was later charged in a fourth case with raping a sixth woman while he knowingly had an outbreak of herpes, court records state. Cummings told the woman he still wanted to have sex with her, and raped her after she said no, the records show.
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.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.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 May 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: The headline was corrected May 25, 2022. The plea was for sexual assault of six women.
