Blaine man charged with rape

On Friday a Blaine man made his first court appearance and charged with raping a Blaine teenager.

Eric Mickelsen, 34, was arrested July 11 after coming to the police station with two black eyes. The police had been looking for Mickelsen following up on information received from a Bellingham counseling service that he had initiated a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy which had continued for a year. According to police chief Bill Elfo, Mickelsen said friends of the boy’s mother caught up with him first and gave him a beating, after which he turned himself in and has since cooperated with police.

During their investigation police obtained witness statements and physical evidence to back up the counseling service tip. Elfo said Mickelsen allegedly befriended the boy and told the boy’s mother he was serving as a father figure to the teen. He initially bought the boy gifts but moved on to involve him in multiple sex acts. “The boy’s mother was astonished and had no idea her son was being abused,” Elfo said.

On July 19 Mickelsen was charged in Superior Court with rape of a child in the third degree. His trial is scheduled to start on October 14.

Elfo said police are encouraging any parents of children who were befriended by Mickelsen to talk to them about the nature of the relationship and, if they suspect abuse, to contact police.

 

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