A King County man has pleaded guilty to raping an intoxicated Bellingham woman, whom he knew, in 2017.
Van Robert Wolfe, 30, of SeaTac, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Aug. 13 in Whatcom County Superior Court to one count of third-degree rape. The charge states that Wolfe engaged in sexual intercourse with another person under circumstances where that person did not consent to the sexual intercourse, according to court records.
In February 2021, a woman disclosed to the Bellingham Police Department that Wolfe sexually assaulted her in November 2017 while they were at a Bellingham home.
Wolfe was originally charged Jan. 5, 2022 with one count of second-degree rape. His charge was lowered as part of an agreed resolution between the prosecuting and defense attorneys, and in exchange for his guilty plea, court records show.
His sentencing hearing has been set for Oct. 3.
The Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is expected to recommend at Wolfe’s sentencing hearing that he serve six months in jail, with one year of probation. The prosecutor will also recommend that Wolfe be required to register as a sex offender, that he participate in sexual deviancy treatment and any other crime-related treatment and prohibitions as recommended by the Washington State Department of Corrections.
A five-year no-contact order between Wolfe and the woman is also expected to be recommended, court documents state.
Wolfe’s standard range sentence is between six and 12 months in jail, with 12 months of probation, the records show.
A pre-sentence investigation report conducted by DOC is required by law to be completed prior to Wolfe’s sentencing hearing. The investigation, which will cover Wolfe’s version of the events written in his own words, victim impacts, and Wolfe’s personal, professional, medical and social history, will also include a conclusion and recommendation as to whether or not specialized community-based or institutional treatment would serve the best interests of the community and Wolfe.
The report is due within 60 days, court records state.
Wolfe was taken into custody following his guilty plea on Tuesday, Aug. 13. He will remain incarcerated in the Whatcom County Work Center on Division Street until his sentencing hearing in early October.
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 hotline 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: https://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
Local Bellingham, WA
Most Popular
Comments / 0