Editor’s note: a statement from DVSAS has been added to this article.
BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham man has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two girls he knew over the span of several years.
32-year-old Brian Drake pleaded guilty to felony child rape, child molestation and incest charges in Whatcom Superior Court last Thursday, Aug. 22.
He was initially facing 13 felony charges, but only pleaded guilty to three as part of the plea agreement.
Court documents state that the two victims, who are now adults, told investigators last year that Brian and his brother, Aaron, repeatedly molested and raped them when they were children. The alleged abuse occurred between 2002 and 2009 at the Drakes’ home in Bellingham, though Brian Drake only pled guilty to the charges from 2004 to 2009.
Drake was arrested in September 2023 and remains at the Whatcom County Jail on $350,000 bail.
His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 17, where he faces up to life in prison.
Aaron Drake is currently in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility in Montana facing a separate sexual assault charge against another young girl who was known to him.
In response to Brian Drake’s guilty plea, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County released the following statement:
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS) stands with survivors regardless of when the abuse occurred or who perpetrated the abuse. We are committed to working to create a world safe from abuse.
Whether it was years ago or more recently, if you or someone you know has been impacted by intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation and would like to speak confidentially with an advocate, please call our 24-hour Helpline at 360-715-1563 or visit our offices located at 1407 Commercial St during walk-in hours on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10-2.
Other helpful resources include:
- 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.
- 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/
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic/sexual violence, call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
