Custer man arrested on suspicion of rape

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A Custer man who was arrested on suspicion of second-degree rape has been released on bond.

Lenell Ryan Stanford, 36, was arrested on April 26 after a woman left from his home and called 911 to report being sexually assaulted, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court.

Around 10 p.m. on April 24, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies responded to an area near Valley View and McGee roads where the victim was located. Court records show the woman told deputies that she tried pushing Stanford off of her and repeatedly told him to stop. The woman went to the hospital for a sexual assault examination after providing her statement to law enforcement, according to the affidavit.

When questioned by WCSO deputies on April 24, Stanford, who police said appeared intoxicated, said he didn’t remember his encounter with the woman, according to the affidavit. Deputies returned to Stanford’s home in the early morning of April 26 and Stanford told the deputies that the sex was consensual, according to court records. WCSO deputies proceeded to arrest and book Stanford into Whatcom County Jail for second-degree rape.

Stanford was released the same day he was arrested on a $2,000 cash bond. His arraignment is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 5.

A sexual assault protection order was put in place between Stanford and the woman.

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.

Blaine man gets 15 years for distributing fentanyl, robbery and eluding police

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A Blaine man was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison last month for distributing fentanyl-laced pills and his involvement in an armed robbery at WinCo Foods in April 2022.

James Michael Discher, 30, was sentenced to a total of 186 months in prison after pleading guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court April 6 to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, second-degree robbery and attempting to elude a police vehicle. The charges from separate cases were combined following Discher’s plea bargain.

In March 2022, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force agents purchased fentanyl-laced pills from

Discher twice after an investigation identified him as a mid-level narcotics dealer, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In April 2022, Discher pulled a handgun on two WinCo employees who attempted to stop him from walking out of the store with a bag of unpaid merchandise. A Bellingham police officer identified Discher over two weeks after the robbery was reported. Discher spotted the officer and fled at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement officers, with the help of a tip, found Discher hiding on a Bellingham property later that day and arrested him. Discher will also serve 3.5 years in community custody following his time in prison.

Birch Bay man to serve prison time for trailer arson

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A Birch Bay man was sentenced to prison last month after pleading guilty to setting a trailer on fire in Point Whitehorn last summer.

Landon Lee Larson, 33, pleaded guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court on April 20 to second-degree arson and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Last June, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies responded to a report of arson in the 6900 block of Holeman Avenue where a witness said they saw Larson light a trailer on fire, a WCSO spokesperson previously told The Northern Light. According to the affidavit of probable cause, a relative of Larson lived in the trailer. The fire was extinguished by the time depu- ties arrived.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing the trailer burning and Larson walking away with a lighter in hand. Some people reportedly tried to stop Larson.

Deputies arrested Larson at his home the following day after numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact him. Larson was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson, obstructing a law enforcement officer and violation of a no contact order. He later received a premeditated first-degree murder charge, which was dropped following his guilty plea.

Separately, in January 2020, Larson was sentenced to 90 days in jail and a year of probation for two counts of first-degree reckless burning.