MAPLE FALLS, Wash. — Matthew Alan Bentley, age 38, was recently found guilty by a jury in Whatcom County Superior Court of 2 felony counts of 1st-degree assault with a deadly weapon and 2nd-degree unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges stem from an incident that occurred October 6, 2023.
Bentley received an exceptionally light sentence on the assault charges considering the standard ranges based on the seriousness of the crimes and his previous convictions. He has prior felony convictions for assault and drug possession.
But the assault sentences had an additional 60 months or 5 years added to them due the fact that a firearm was used in the commission of the crimes.
Bentley was sentenced to a total of 270 months or 22.5 years of confinement with credit for time served while awaiting trial followed by 3 years of community custody.
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On October 6, 2024, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in the Maple Falls area. According to a probable cause statement filed with the court, a citizen reported seeing a man walking while displaying a handgun. After he lost sight of the man, shots were heard.
Deputies later interviewed the occupants of a house that had been struck by gunfire. They told deputies they had confronted the man after they saw him stabbing a tire on 1 of their vehicles in their driveway with a knife. The man drew his firearm and fired at least 3 shots at 1 of the residents. The shots caused damage to the exterior of the residence, the front door and passed through several internal walls and ceiling.
The man, identified as Bentley, was located by deputies nearby as he matched the description given by witnesses and the victims.
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