Bellingham man sentenced for years-long sex abuse of two children
A Bellingham man will serve a minimum of nearly a decade in prison for the years-long sexual abuse of two children under the age of 10.
Zachary Thomas McFarland, 28, was sentenced June 3 in Whatcom County Superior Court to a minimum of 9½ years in prison up to a maximum of life. McFarland was given an indeterminate sentence, which means he has to serve the minimum 9½ years in prison, but could be held for life, pending review by the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board.
Once McFarland has served most of his time, the board will review his offense, his behavior in prison and whether it would be safe to release him into the community. If not, he will remain in prison and be evaluated again at a later date. This can continue for McFarland’s life as part of his indeterminate sentence.
If McFarland is released from prison, he will be on probation for three years. He will be required to register as a sex offender, according to court records.
As part of his sentencing, a sexual assault protection order was also put in place for life between McFarland and the two children.
McFarland pleaded guilty in March to five counts of first-degree child molestation (domestic violence), two counts of second-degree incest (domestic violence) and two counts of violation of a domestic no-contact order (domestic violence).
McFarland was arrested in October 2020 after Bellingham police were notified by Child Protective Services of alleged sexual abuse of two children, according to court records.
An investigation found that over a three-year period from 2017 through October 2020, McFarland sexually assaulted one of the children, who was 7 years old at the time, at least 15 times. He also sexually assaulted another child, who was 5 years old, at least twice, the court records 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.
▪ 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/.
