A 22-year-old Blaine man who jumped bail over a year ago after being arrested for child rape was booked into Whatcom County Jail on August 5. He was also wanted for multiple domestic violence charges.
Fredy Eduardo Martin Esteban is being held in Whatcom County Jail on a $500,000 appearance bond for failing to appear in court for first-degree child rape. He is also being held on a $500,000 appearance bond for second-degree assault with a domestic violence enhancement, a $20,000 appearance bond for DUI warrant, fourth-degree assault with a domestic violence enhancement and third-degree malicious mischief with a domestic violence enhancement.
Martin Esteban was arrested in California after a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed tinted windows on a vehicle in which Martin Esteban was a passenger and conducted a traffic stop, Santa Barbara lieutenant Jarrett Morris wrote in an email to The Northern Light. The deputy discovered Martin Esteban’s warrant after Martin Esteban provided the deputy his Washington state driver’s license. Martin Esteban was extradited to Washington on August 5.
In November 2022, Martin Esteban was arrested on a first-degree child rape charge after a 5-year-old had reported Martin Esteban “hurt” her, provided a description of the assault and an adult known to the child witnessed strange behavior from the child after the assault.
On January 21, 2023, Martin Esteban was released on a $20,000 bail bond.
A few days later, a woman known to Martin Esteban described to Whatcom County detectives how he tried to strangle her when she was pregnant as well as kicked and slapped her during that time, according to Whatcom County Superior Court records. The woman also reported Martin Esteban hit and pulled the hair of a child known to him.
During the incident where Martin Esteban allegedly strangled the pregnant woman, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested the woman that day because “it was later decided [she] was the primary aggressor,” according to court records.
The woman’s attorney and social worker provided documentation of the woman’s assaults to the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, including video and medical records.
On February 9, 2023, the prosecutor’s office charged Martin Esteban with one count of second-degree injuries, six counts of fourth-degree assault and one count of third-degree malicious mischief, all with domestic violence enhancements.
A warrant for Martin Esteban’s arrest was filed the same day charges were filed.
Martin Esteban’s arraignment is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Friday, August 16 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline is available at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.
Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.
Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24-hour helpline at 360/312-2015.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.
