Oak Harbor teen to go out of state

Associated Press

SEATTLE — A 13-year-old sexual offender from Oak Harbor is being transferred to a program in Pennsylvania because of vandalism and threats against his former foster family, state officials have decided.

"Our goal was to keep (the boy) in Washington, where he could be close to family," Todd Henry of the Children’s Administration in the Department of Social and Health Services said Tuesday.

"In light of our concerns for the foster parents’ safety and his safety, too, we believe it is best to place him out of state," Henry said. "We want to give (the boy) a chance to have a life where he can have privacy and get an education."

The boy will return to Washington state if suitable housing for him is found, Henry said.

The boy is classified as a Level 3 sex offender, one considered at high risk to commit another offense.

He will be moved from the Echo Glen juvenile detention center outside Snoqualmie to Pennsylvania at the end of the week, officials said.

He would not identify or describe the place where the boy will be staying except to say that it is not locked and will cost Washington state $13,500 a month.

The boy drew public attention in December after he completed a sentence for a sexual assault on a woman in a Snohomish County public restroom. He has also been accused of attacks on a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.

Lacking an initial foster placement, the boy spent almost three weeks being shuttled by an Island County sheriff’s deputy between a DSHS office in Oak Harbor by day and crisis residential centers by night.

He spent about two weeks at a foster home in Seabeck before being taken to Echo Glen on Jan. 31 after authorities said he made a threatening gesture with a pencil toward one of his caregivers.

Neighbors in Seabeck held meetings and protest marches. After he was moved to Echo Glen, someone poured paint inside and outside his foster mother’s car and scrawled the words "you’re next," Henry said.

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.