BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A Bellingham man was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a child nearly a decade ago.

Court documents state that the victim reported the assaults to police in 2021.

She told investigators that the suspect, who was known to her and her family, began assaulting her when she was eight years old.

The victim said the abuse continued into her teens, saying she was repeatedly assaulted while the suspect gave her massages.

She added that the suspect had her strip completely naked for those massages.

The suspect, 57-year-old Christopher Wade, was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 8th.

Wade faces several child rape and sexual assault charges.

He was released on Thursday, March 9th, on a $60,000 bond.