KGMI News
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A Bellingham man accused of raping a teen girl, threatening to kill her family and holding them in a motel room for two days took an Alford plea to reduce the charges against him.
The then-17-year-old girl, her mother and brother were homeless and traveling with Andrew Seeman, staying in hotel and motel rooms.
Police say while they were staying in the Villa Inn on Samish Way, Seeman followed the girl into a bathroom and raped her, strangled her when she called for her mother in the next room and threatened to kill the family with a knife, starting with the 3-year-old boy.
They were held in the motel for two days.
The Bellingham Herald reports he entered the Alford plea last Tuesday, acknowledging a jury would likely find him guilty. Prosecutors are seeking a 7.5 year prison sentence, along with 3 years probation and requiring Seeman to register as a sex offender.
In exchange, prosecutors will recommend dropping four of the charges against Seeman. He was charged with first-degree rape, second-degree assault with sexual motivation, unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation and three counts of felony harassment.