BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Brian Tolstrip Christensen, age 55, faced 1st-degree manslaughter and 2 drug possession charges after a man had been found dead of a fentanyl overdose a day after taking drugs reportedly provided by Christensen on March 29, 2023. After pleading guilty to unlawful delivery of controlled substances, the manslaughter and other drug charge were dismissed.
Christensen was sentenced to 20 months in prison with credit for time served while awaiting trial followed by 12 months in community custody during a sentencing hearing on February 11, 2025.
Christensen was arrested on September 26, 2023, and released from Whatcom County Jail custody after posting a $200,000 bond on February 10, 2024. On February 19, 2024, Christensen was found to have violated the terms of his release after Bellingham Police and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a reported fentanyl overdose and arrived to find the patient was Christensen.
Christensen appeared in court on March 5, 2024, and was returned to jail custody pending being able to post a $400,000 bond.
Christensen also pled guilty in January 2025 to a charge of felony witness tampering. He received a 4-month prison sentence.
Christensen was transferred to Department of Corrections custody on February 18, 2025, to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
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