Blaine man arrested on suspicion of first-degree child rape

A 20-year-old Blaine man was arrested November 11 on suspicion of first-degree child rape.

A Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputy was dispatched to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham on November 11 for a report of a child raped on November 4, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. The young child was undergoing a sexual assault examination at the hospital when the deputy was called. 

The young child had told her mother that Fredy Martin Esteban, a man known to the family, “hurt” her, deputies learned at the hospital, according to the affidavit. WCSO interviews with the child as well as family and friends provided more evidence for the arrest, including the child’s description of the assault and a family friend witnessing strange behavior from the child after the assault. 

Esteban was booked into Whatcom County Jail with $200,000 bail on November 11. He also had two active warrants for driving under the influence in Whatcom County. Esteban remained in jail as of November 30.

Washington state law defines first-degree child rape as when a person has sexual intercourse with a child who is younger than 12 years old and the perpetrator is at least 24 months older than the victim. 

Esteban’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday, December 2. 

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, please call the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563. 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. Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.