Man who molested young girl he knew in Bellingham sentenced in Whatcom County court
An Arlington man accused of molesting a girl between the ages of 7 and 9 in Bellingham was sentenced Tuesday to six months in prison in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Joshua Calib Collins, 41, who most recently resided in Missouri, was charged with first-degree child molestation on Sept. 13, 2021. He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on a warrant on Dec. 8, 2021.
According to court records, Collins was a family friend of the victim who would regularly sleep at her home. On one of these occasions, Collins allegedly climbed into the fold-out couch where the victim was sleeping and touched her inappropriately.
The abuse was disclosed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police while they were investigating a separate matter. They notified the Bellingham Police Department on March 3, 2021.
Collins pleaded guilty to third-degree child molestation on Jan. 13.
According to court records, the victim declined to participate in an interview for the pre-sentencing information report. Her mother said the “entire situation has been too traumatic” for her daughter to discuss, and she did not attend or provide an impact statement to be read at Collins’ sentencing.
She told prosecutors that she just wanted the attorneys to reach a resolution in the case to be able to avoid a trial. Judge Robert Olson said it gave him some hope that Collins did plead guilty to avoid the potential trauma of trial for both the victim and jurors.
He said Collins’ behavior was “scarring for that person’s life.”
Senior Deputy Public Defender Shoshanah Epstein, who was standing in for Collins’ assigned public defender, said the incident was “extremely out of character” for Collins.
“He has always wanted to participate fully and take responsibility,” Epstein said.
Olson followed the recommendations agreed upon by both parties, sentencing Collins to six months in prison followed by a year in community custody. Collins will have to undergo an evaluation for sexual deviancy and complete any recommended treatment, and a sexual assault protection order for the victim will be in place for two years following his release.
Resources
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org Brigid Collins Family Support Center professionals are on call between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday to answer questions about children, families, abuse prevention or treatment at 360-734-4616.
▪ Child Protective Services: Washington state hot line for reporting child abuse and neglect, 866-829-2153.
▪ 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. If you or a child is in immediate danger, call 911 and make a report to law enforcement. To report child abuse or neglect call 1-866-END HARM.
▪ NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Whatcom: www.namiwhatcom.org/crisis-resources.html
▪ Washington State Crisis Line/National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or text HOME to 741741 for a crisis counselor
▪ Whatcom County Triage Center Crisis Line: 800-584-3578
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM.