Birch Bay Village man found guilty of harassment, serves 73 days

A Birch Bay man who allegedly threatened to kill his neighbors and an on-duty Birch Bay Village security guard in July was found guilty of harassment in Whatcom County District Court last month. The Northern Light previously reported that his case had been dismissed in Whatcom County Superior Court, which was due to a plea in the district court.

Scott Brandon Peterson, 50, was sentenced to 364 days in jail after he was found guilty of harassment on September 2 in Whatcom County District Court. Peterson will serve 73 days in a jail alternative center after 291 days of his sentence were suspended, according to court documents.

Peterson was booked into Whatcom County Jail July 9 on suspicion of harassment, carrying a weapon, reckless driving and third-degree malicious mischief. He was released September 4 from Whatcom County Jail having served 57 days and earned 16 good time credits, according to Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) corrections chief Wendy Jones.

Peterson’s felony charges were either dropped or dismissed without prejudice in Superior Court. He pled guilty September 2 to the misdemeanor harassment charge at the district level. District courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases with jail sentences of less than a year and/or a fine up to $5,000.

Peterson, in the early morning of July 9, reportedly threatened an on-duty security guard at Birch Bay Village and told the guard he was going to kill his neighbors, according to the affidavit of probable cause. He then proceeded to stab the security podium, cut camera wires, broke glass in the street, threatened to kill his neighbors and himself, and later tried to avoid WCSO deputies.