Prosecutors formally charge Bellingham man arrested in child rape investigation
A Bellingham man has been charged with three felonies in Whatcom County Superior Court for the rape and assault of a teenager.
Kenneth Tyrell Peterson, 30, was arrested by the Bellingham Police Department on Feb. 19 following an investigation into the rape of a child, which was reported four days prior.
Court records show that Peterson met a teenage girl at the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Bellingham Station on the evening of Feb. 13. The girl had run away from home, and Peterson invited her to stay at his encampment overnight.
Peterson took the girl to his tent and, after talking for a while, exposed his genitals and began to masturbate. He then raped the girl and strangled her for about 30 seconds, according to court records.
Peterson later left the tent, and the girl was able to walk back to downtown Bellingham.
While she didn’t know Peterson’s name, the girl was able to describe him and identify a photograph of him for police. Surveillance footage from the WTA station and street cameras also showed the two together.
Peterson is a registered sex offender who was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for third-degree child molestation. Police said they believe Peterson poses a “significant risk to the sexual and physical safety” of children.
Peterson was charged with first-degree rape inflicting serious injury, second-degree assault, third-degree rape of a child and indecent exposure. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Peterson is being held at Whatcom County Jail without bail.
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.
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 4:12 PM.