BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police Department and Department of Homeland Security conducted an investigation into a report that a 14-year-old girl had been receiving inappropriate electronic messages from a stranger.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by prosecutors in Whatcom County Superior Court, the investigation found sexual content in messages received on the juvenile’s phone and messages that said the sender knew the recipient was a minor.
Investigators were able to identify the sender’s phone number and confirmed the owner’s identity. When asked by investigators, the victim said she did not recognize the name of the suspect.
When presented with a photo of the suspect, the victim said she had seen him on multiple occasions near her school and house and in between.
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Click for more informationAccording to Whatcom County Jail records, Miles Stuart Smith, age 41, was arrested by Homeland Security on April 28th and booked into the jail.
Smith faces a gross misdemeanor charge of cyber harassment and a felony charge of communication with minor for immoral purposes.
According to jail records, Smith was released from custody on May 1st after posting either a $50,000 bond or $5,000 cash. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12th.