A 61-year-old Bellingham man was arrested on Tuesday in his Sudden Valley home on suspicion of the rape and molestation of a child, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Richard Bartholomew was booked into Whatcom County Jail on multiple accounts of second-degree rape of a child and multiple counts of second-degree child molestation, police said. No bail is allowed, according to the jail roster.
The victim said Bartholomew befriended her at church when she was 12 years old and raped her multiple times between 2007 to 2010, according to police.
“This case highlights the dedication and diligence that our detectives demonstrate to seek justice for victims,” Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said in a release. “They work with compassion and empathy to help victims of sexual assault find their voice and hopefully be able to start the healing process.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is active and those with information regarding the case should call the tip line at 360-778-6663.
This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
