FERNDALE, Wash. — Ferndale Police booked James M Marriott, age 18, into the Whatcom County Jail Tuesday afternoon, March 17th, charged with suspicion of 1st degree rape of a child, 1st degree incest, unlawful imprisonment and voyeurism.
Marriott was previously arrested February 19th after he had been identified as a result of a St Cloud Florida Police Department investigation and Ferndale Police were notified. He was arrested by Ferndale Police and charged with suspicion of viewing, possessing and distributing child pornography. He was released from custody February 20th on his personal recognizance with a court-ordered curfew of 6pm to 6am. He returned to Whatcom County Superior Court for his initial arraignment on February 28th and pled not guilty to the child pornography charges.
According to an email received from City of Ferndale Deputy City Clerk Sherry DeJong, a followup investigation to the original charges, including interviews with household members, led to the new charges and arrest.
A minor household member who is related to Marriot disclosed he had raped them and refused to allow them to leave a closed room. Further disclosures included Marriot hiding a camera in a bathroom to record the minor household member while they showered. Email from City of Ferndale Deputy City Clerk Sherry DeJong
Jail records indicate Marriott was released from custody on March 18th after a preliminary appearance in court. He is scheduled to appear at his initial arraignment on the new charges on March 27th.