A 39-year-old man is in Whatcom County Jail after being extradited from Indianapolis for sexually abusing a child in the Blaine area between 2019 and 2021.
Randall Noel Bezant, 39, was booked into jail on June 20 and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond. Court records show Bezant is facing charges of child rape and molestation in the first and second degrees as well as second-degree assault of a child.
The child disclosed to Child Protective Services (CPS) she had been sexually assaulted when she was around 10 or 11 years old by Bezant, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. CPS referred the case to Blaine Police Department last September.
During a forensic interview, the child described the sexual assaults and said that on multiple occasions Bezant made her pass out by squeezing her neck.
Bezant moved to Indianapolis after the child told another adult and Bezant was confronted about it, according to court records.
A detective with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department interviewed Bezant, who corroborated many parts of the child’s story. Court records state that while being questioned about the sexual assaults by the detective, Bezant said, “Yes. It was inappropriate, and I regret it.” Bezant also described having his “hand around her neck when she went limp” and admitted that “it was kind of weird,” according to court documents.
A warrant was issued for Bezant’s arrest on April 8, and he was brought to Whatcom County on June 20. Bezant’s arraignment, where he will be formally charged, is scheduled Friday, July 11.
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.
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