Woman accused of Whatcom County Courthouse vandalism facing four charges, two felonies
A Bellingham woman who was arrested in connection with the break-in and vandalism last month that caused more than $10,000 in damage to the Whatcom County Courthouse was found competent to stand trial and pleaded not guilty in a hearing Thursday morning.
Victoria Rose Coe, 29, was arraigned on charges that include second-degree burglary, first-degree malicious mischief, third-degree theft and resisting arrest. The first two charges are felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
Coe pleaded not guilty to the charges at her arraignment Thursday, standing in jail clothing next to her lawyer, public defender Kurt Parrish.
Skagit County Superior Court Judge Thomas Verge heard the case via zoom in a Whatcom County courtroom.
Parrish told the court Thursday that the incident occurred during a “drug-induced psychosis” and promised Verge that Coe was committed to sobriety.
Verge set bail at $5,000 with a $500 cash alternative, and ordered trial for Jan. 21.
Coe remained at the Whatcom County Jail early Thursday, where she has been held without bail since her arrest Nov. 19, when authorities said she used a metal box to smash the glass doors at the north entrance to the Whatcom County Courthouse.
In seeking higher bail on Thursday, deputy prosecuting attorney Samantha Macintosh said Coe went on a five-hour rampage after she broke into the courthouse — writing graffiti on a wall, breaking open an ATM in the courthouse hallway and destroying an X-ray machine used for courthouse security.
Some of the incident was captured on courthouse security cameras, and it prompted a further review of security procedures at the courthouse, which was built in the 1930s and was expanded in 1972 and 1991, according to the county website.
In addition to the the District and Superior courts, the building houses offices for the county executive, assessor, treasurer and auditor.
The Nov. 19 incident is the second recent break-in at the courthouse. In January 2023 a burglar caused several thousand dollars in damage and prompted a review of security measures.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 1:26 PM.
